Islamabad: Most Pakistanis believe the US
poses a bigger threat to their country than India and are
disenchanted with Washington for interfering in their internal
affairs, according to a survey commissioned by Al Jazeera news
channel.
The survey, conducted by Gallup Pakistan, revealed
that 59 percent of respondents believed the greatest threat
to Pakistan right now is the US. Eighteen per cent said that
the greatest threat came from neighbouring India.
Surprisingly, when respondents were asked what they
consider to be the biggest threat to Pakistan, only 11 per
cent nominated the Taliban, who have been blamed for scores of
bombings and suicide attacks across the country.
Al-Jazeera said the findings of the survey reflected
"a widespread disenchantment with the US for interfering with
what most people consider internal Pakistani affairs".
Asked about Pakistan`s military efforts to tackle the
Taliban, 41 percent said they supported the campaign. About
24 per cent were opposed to it while 22 percent remained
neutral.
However, the survey also indicated that Pakistanis
were divided on the issue of how to tackle the Taliban. Though
41 percent said they supported the military offensive, 43 percent backed dialogue to resolve the issue.
The Pakistan Army says its offensive against the
Taliban in Swat and other parts of the northwestern Malakand
division has killed nearly 1,800 militants. The military has
declared the operation a success but some analysts have said
many Taliban fighters simply slipped away to other areas,
surviving to fight another day.
Asked if they supported or opposed the US drone
attacks against Taliban and al Qaeda targets in Pakistan’s
tribal belt, only nine percent of respondents said they
supported such measures. A massive 67 percent said they
opposed US military operations on Pakistani soil.
Nearly 500 people, including Taliban and al Qaeda
fighters as well as a large number of civilians, are believed
to have been killed in about 50 US drone attacks since August
last year.
Asked for their opinion on President Asif Ali Zardari,
42 percent of respondents said he was doing a bad job. About
11 percent approved of his leadership and 34 percent had no
strong opinion either way.
On being asked if they thought Zardari`s Pakistan
People`s Party was good or bad for the country, about 38 per
cent said it was bad, 20 percent believed it was good while
30 percent said they had no strong opinion.
Responding to a question on the best leader to lead
Pakistan, 38 percent backed former premier and opposition
PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif. Only nine percent backed Zardari
while 13 per cent supported Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
The survey, conducted last month, covered over 2,500
men and women across the rural and urban areas of all four
provinces of Pakistan, Al-Jazeera said.
Bureau Report
