NEW DELHI: The foreign ministers of the G7 nations have strongly condemned the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam and called for immediate de-escalation amid rising military tensions between India and Pakistan.
In a joint statement, the G7—which includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union’s High Representative—urged both nations to exercise maximum restraint.
“We, the G7 Foreign Ministers… strongly condemn the egregious terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22 and urge maximum restraint from both India and Pakistan. Further military escalation poses a serious threat to regional stability. We are deeply concerned for the safety of civilians on both sides,” the statement read.
The group emphasized the need for direct dialogue between the two countries and called for an immediate halt to hostilities. “We call for immediate de-escalation and encourage both countries to engage in direct dialogue toward a peaceful outcome. We continue to monitor events closely and express our support for a swift and lasting diplomatic resolution,” the G7 added.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed ongoing U.S. diplomatic efforts to ease tensions, saying the Biden administration is actively working to defuse the situation. She confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been in communication with leaders in both India and Pakistan.
“This is something that the Secretary of State, and now our National Security Adviser as well, Marco Rubio, has been deeply involved in. The President wants to see this de-escalate as quickly as possible,” Leavitt said.
Acknowledging the long-standing nature of the conflict, she noted the administration’s commitment to facilitating peace. “The President understands that these are two countries with a complex and decades-long history. But he has strong relationships with both leaders, and Secretary Rubio has been in constant contact, working to bring this conflict to a close,” she added.
