The Group of Seven (G7) nations issued an urgent call for restraint on Saturday, warning that the escalating conflict between India and Pakistan risks spiraling into a nuclear catastrophe. The statement, released after an emergency virtual meeting of G7 foreign ministers, comes as both nuclear-armed nations intensify military operations, with India’s Air Force striking Pakistani air bases and Pakistan convening its National Command Authority (NCA) to discuss nuclear readiness.
The G7, comprising the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom, expressed “grave concern” over the rapidly deteriorating situation, which has seen heavy exchanges of missile and drone strikes since a deadly April 22 attack in India-administered Kashmir killed 26 civilians. India accuses Pakistan of orchestrating the attack, a charge Islamabad denies, prompting India’s Operation Sindoor, which obliterated key Pakistani air bases, including Nur Khan in Rawalpindi and Rafiqi in Shorkot, according to Indian defense sources. Pakistan retaliated with Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos, targeting Indian military sites and claiming to have downed Indian jets.
“We urge India and Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint, cease all military actions, and engage in direct dialogue to prevent a catastrophic escalation,” the G7 statement read. “The risk of miscalculation between two nuclear-armed states threatens not only regional but global stability.” The group called for an immediate ceasefire and offered to facilitate diplomatic talks, though no concrete mediation plan was outlined.
The G7’s warning follows reports of significant civilian casualties, with Pakistan alleging Indian strikes killed dozens in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, while India claims Pakistani shelling in Jammu and Poonch claimed 15 civilian lives. Posts on X reflect global alarm, with users describing the situation as “a nuclear powder keg” and criticizing the lack of decisive international intervention. Others noted Pakistan’s NCA meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as a signal of heightened nuclear alertness, with some calling it “terrifying posturing.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, representing the G7’s lead voice, held separate calls with Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, pressing both sides to de-escalate. However, U.S. influence appears limited, with sources citing President Donald Trump’s reported dismissal of the conflict as “not our problem,” according to NPR. France and Germany echoed the G7’s concerns, with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot warning that “a single misstep could unleash unimaginable consequences.”
India’s Ministry of External Affairs responded cautiously, asserting that its strikes targeted “terrorist infrastructure” and were a direct response to Pakistan’s alleged support for groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, in turn, condemned India’s “unprovoked aggression” and defended its retaliatory strikes as “self-defense,” while denying civilian targeting.
The United Nations, in a parallel statement, called for an emergency session of the Security Council to address the crisis, with Secretary-General António Guterres urging both nations to respect international humanitarian law. Meanwhile, commercial airlines have rerouted flights to avoid Pakistani and Indian airspace, and border regions in Kashmir report mass evacuations amid relentless artillery fire.
Analysts warn that the G7’s call, while significant, may fall short without robust mediation. “The G7’s words are strong, but both India and Pakistan are entrenched,” said a South Asia expert at the Brookings Institution. “Without a clear de-escalation mechanism, the nuclear risk grows by the hour.” As global attention remains riveted on the region, the international community faces mounting pressure to prevent a conflict that could redefine the global security landscape.
