Washington: Despite billions in aid from Washington and a shared threat from extremists, Pakistanis have an overwhelmingly negative view of the United States, according to results of a Pew Research Centre poll released on Thursday.
The survey also found that Pakistanis have grown less fearful of extremists seizing control of their country, perhaps reflecting gains that government troops have made against militants since early 2009.
Most Pakistanis want improved relations with the United States, according to the poll. But most view the US with suspicion, support for American involvement in the fight against extremists has declined, and nearly two-thirds want US troops out of neighbouring Afghanistan.
Nearly six in 10 Pakistanis polled described the US as an enemy and only one in 10 called it a partner.
Not surprisingly, Pakistanis said the biggest threat to their country is longtime rival India. Fifty-three percent rated India as the biggest threat, 23 percent named the Taliban and three percent cited al Qaeda. The rest cited all three, or none or said they didn`t know.
PTI
