Goa, May 10 -- The Group of Seven (G7) nations on Saturday urged India and Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint and pursue immediate de-escalation of their ongoing military conflict through direct diplomatic engagement. The appeal comes as tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors continue to intensify, drawing global concern.

In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the High Representative of the European Union strongly condemned the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22 and warned against further military escalation.

"Further military escalation poses a serious threat to regional stability," the G7 foreign ministers said. "We are dee...