NEW DELHI, Nov 7: Top Indian film stars and other well-known personalities launched a campaign to denounce the United States’ military action in Afghanistan, press reports said on Wednesday.

An appeal launched by filmstars and member of parliament Sunil Dutt - backed by more than 100 actors, musicians and painters - said the bombing of Afghanistan has resulted in the deaths of a large number of innocent civilians.

“This is very tragic and must be avoided,” the celebrities said in the declaration.

The statement, however, also condemned the Sept 11 attacks on the US, and said the global campaign against terrorism was an “imperative necessity”.

But the stars criticized the United States attitude that those not with it in its war are with the terrorists.

“India is a vast country with its treasure of many languages, religions, philosophies and a multiple and diverse ethos.

Here we cannot simply say we are with the US or against the U.S,” said Sharmila Tagore, one of the movie stars who signed the petition.

“This is a difficult and complex situation. Things aren’t black or white - there are many shades in-between.”

Among others who signed the declaration were author Kushwant Singh, painters Ghulam Mohammed Sheikh and Jatin Das, and musician Amjad Ali Khan.—dpa