A new online petition on the White House website is urging the United States government to declare that India is a state that is spreading terrorism in its neighbouring countries, reported PTI. The petition, by a group of Pakistani-Americans, is an attempt to counter one that sought a terror tag for Pakistan and was launched by people of Indian origin living in the United States.

Launched on a platform called “We the People”, which was started by US President Barack Obama, the petition was created in September by person who identified themselves as SS. It has received close to 64,000 signatures and requires another 36,000 to be considered by the United States government. If it manages to secure these signatures, the administration will have to respond to it within 60 days.

The petition against Pakistan was created on September 21 by a person identified as RG. It read, "We, the people, ask the administration to declare Pakistan, a State Sponsor of Terrorism." Within two weeks, it garnered half a million signatures.

The terror tag petition came up days after a Bill demanding similar action was tabled in the US Congress by two lawmakers – Ted Poe and Dana Rohrabacher. Poe, who is also the chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, said, "It is time we stop paying Pakistan for its betrayal and designate it for what it is, a state sponsor of terrorism." However, the White House on October 3 archived the petition and stopped accepting signatures, as it did not meet the "signature requirements".

Bilateral ties between India and Pakistan have deteriorated after the attack on an Indian Army installation in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri and lndia launching "surgical strikes" along the Line of Control. India has accused Islamabad of being involved in the Uri attack, while Pakistan has dismissed the allegations as baseless.