Guwahati, May 12 -- More than 5,500 people have signed a petition on Change.org calling on citizens of India and Pakistan to reject hate, resist divisive ideologies, and choose dialogue over retaliation.

Launched three days ago by the Southasia Peace Action Network, the petition appeals for peace amid rising tensions between the two nations, according to an agency.

Prominent signatories include Indian filmmaker Anand Patwardhan, Pakistani-American historian Dr. Ayesha Jalal, physicist Pervez Hoodbhoy from Pakistan, Indian economist Jean Dreze, and Nepali publisher Kanak Mani Dixit.

Together, they condemned terrorism and violent extremism, denouncing attacks on unarmed civilians for political motives.

The petition warns that media and ...