As tension simmers between India and Pakistan, expats from both the countries residing in the UAE are rallying for peace. Residents took to Twitter, urging calm. #SayNoToWar was the top trending hashtag in the UAE on Wednesday.

Bava Haji Pandalingal, a social worker, said that India and Pakistan should learn from the UAE's message of tolerance. "Indians and Pakistanis form the biggest expat communities here and have always lived in peace and harmony. We coexist here like brothers. So, the leadership of both the countries should take note of such aspects and push the peace process and not war," said Pandalingal, who was awarded Pravasi Bharatiya Samman - the highest honour conferred on overseas Indians by the government of India.

Afsar Khan, who hails from India, said he was praying for peace. "Nobody wants war. As it is, our lives are so short; what will anyone gain through war? At the end of the day, poor people will die for no reason."

Khan said that politicians should rather focus on creating jobs and providing basic amenities to people. "Shutting down the airspace will affect people in emergencies."

'We are brothers and friends'

India and Pakistan have often deployed sports diplomacy as a medium of peace. And the UAE's star cricketer Rohan Mustafa, who hails from Pakistan, said he has a lot of friends across the border.

Condemning any act of violence, Mustafa said: "To be honest, it's very sad for people of both the countries. As you know, a lot of innocent people will get killed in war."

Mustafa noted how people are living peacefully in the UAE. "We are in the UAE. I have lot of friends from India. We take care of each other like brothers. I spend my weekend with them. I will never think wrong about them. I would love to see both countries as friends," the UAE all-rounder added.

Mashood Ali, a long-time resident from Pakistan, said there were no winners in war.

"The developments which are happening are all in bad taste and should be stopped immediately. Both the countries should first consider the fact that we are all human beings. What is the benefit of killing each other?" asked Ali. "Common people from both the countries are sad and only politicians are benefitting from such conflicts."

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