G7 Urges Pak-India Dialogue as Cross-Border Tensions Escalate

The Group of Seven (G7) major economies has called for direct dialogue between India and Pakistan as tensions rise between the nuclear-armed neighbors, while the United States has offered to assist in launching “constructive talks,” Reuters reported.

Global powers have voiced concern over the intensifying conflict between India and Pakistan, a rivalry that has spanned decades. India launched airstrikes and missile attacks on Pakistan on Wednesday, sparking daily clashes that have resulted in dozens of deaths.

Among the G7 nations, the United States has maintained ongoing communication with both India and Pakistan over recent days, consistently urging de-escalation.

Following a call on Friday between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, the U.S. State Department stated that Rubio offered U.S. support “in starting constructive talks to prevent future conflicts.” Rubio has also been in frequent contact with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar since the end of April.

Trump calls Pak-India conflict ‘a shame’

Earlier this week, former President Donald Trump described the escalating conflict as “a shame,” while U.S. Vice President JD Vance remarked that a war between India and Pakistan would be “none of our business.”

In recent years, India has emerged as a key strategic partner for Western powers, particularly as a counterweight to China’s growing influence. Meanwhile, Pakistan remains a U.S. ally, although its strategic significance has declined since America’s 2021 military withdrawal from Afghanistan.

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States, Britain, and the European Union strongly condemned a militant attack on April 22 that killed 26 people in Illegal Indian Occupied Kashmir (IIOK). India blamed Pakistan for the assault, an accusation Islamabad denied, calling instead for an impartial investigation.

“We call for immediate de-escalation and encourage both countries to engage in direct dialogue towards a peaceful outcome,” the G7 foreign ministers emphasized, reinforcing the G7 urges India and Pakistan dialogue message.

The Muslim-majority region of Kashmir, which both nations claim in full but govern partially, remains a flashpoint for wars, insurgencies, and diplomatic standoffs between India and Pakistan.

Pakistan’s government confirmed this week that contacts have occurred between the national security councils of Islamabad and New Delhi, signaling possible openings for dialogue.