News
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Domestic support for Pakistan Army action against terrorists drops: poll* Pew Research Center survey finds that just 37 percent support using army to fight terrorists, 16 percent lower than two years ago
ISLAMABAD: Domestic support for the Pakistani military’s campaign against terrorist groups has waned in recent years, a poll by a US group has found, showing deep-rooted opposition among the Pakistani public to the United States.
The findings of two Pew Research Center surveys will be disappointing for the United States, which wants its ally to deal forcefully with terrorists, particularly those fighting US-led foreign forces across the border in Afghanistan who take refuge in northwestern Pakistani border enclaves. The survey of 3,221 Pakistanis found that just 37 percent of them supported using the army to fight terrorists, which was 16 percent lower than two years ago, according to Pew. The surveys also showed that most Pakistanis – 63 percent – disapproved of the secret US raid in May that killed Osama bin Laden, with 55 percent describing it as a “bad thing”. It was not clear if the respondents disapproved of the killing of the al Qaeda leader, who has not been popular in the country in recent years, or the secret US raid which many people saw as a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty. Only 12 percent of respondents had a positive view of the United States and only 8 percent had confidence in President Barack Obama “to do the right thing in world affairs”, Pew said.
“Most Pakistanis see the United States as an enemy, consider it a potential military threat and oppose American-led anti-terrorism efforts,” Pew said. The overwhelming rejection of US goals and efforts in the region puts Pakistan’s US-allied government and military in a difficult position in trying to please its people while working with the United States.
Although Pakistan said the death of bin Laden was a positive step in the battle against militancy, his killing by US Navy SEALs in his Pakistani hideout seriously damaged already strained ties between the uneasy allies. reuters
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk