Published:
Pakistani Public Turns Against Taliban, But Still Negative on U.S.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. , July 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Most Pakistanis now see the Pakistani Taliban as well as al Qaeda as a critical threat to the country -- a major shift from 18 months ago -- and support the government and army in their fight in the Swat Valley against the Pakistani Taliban. An overwhelming majority think that Taliban groups who seek to overthrow the Afghan government should not be allowed to have bases in Pakistan .
However, this does not bring with it a shift in attitudes toward the U.S. A large majority continue to have an unfavorable view of the U.S. government. Almost two-thirds say they do not have confidence in Obama. An overwhelming majority opposes U.S. drone attacks inPakistan.
These are some of the results of a new WorldPublicOpinion.org poll conducted May 17-28, 2009. The nationwide random sample included 1000 Pakistani adults, selected using multi-stage probability sampling, who responded in face-to-face interviews. The margin of error is +/- 3.2 percent.
"A sea change has occurred in Pakistani public opinion. The tactics and undemocratic bent of militant groups -- in tribal areas as well as Swat -- have brought widespread revulsion and turned Pakistanis against them," comments Clay Ramsay, research director. However, he adds: "It's crucial to understand that the U.S. is resented just as much as before, despite the U.S. having a new president."
There has been a huge increase in those who think the "activities of Islamist militants and local Taliban" are a critical threat toPakistan -- a 47 point rise to 81 percent, up from 34 percent in 2007. If the Pakistani Taliban were to gain control of the country, 75 percent say this would be bad (very bad, 67%) -- though only 33 percent think this outcome is likely.
Seventy percent say their sympathies are more with the government than with the Pakistani Taliban in the struggle over Swat. Large majorities express confidence in the government (69%) and the military (72%) to handle the situation.
Respondents were also polled about the Afghan Taliban, al Qaeda activities, andPakistan's own leaders.
WorldPublicOpinion.org is a project managed by the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland. Funding for this research was provided by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the Calvert Foundation.
For more information, please visit: www.worldpublicopinion.org
SOURCE Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland
Copyright © 2009, PRNewswire
Copyright © 2009, NewsBlaze,
Daily NewsTags: ,PUB,WEB,POL,FOR,SVY,Pakistan-opinion-srvy
Search News
Daily News
