Washington, June 04: A large number of Pakistanis view the US as a potential future military threat, the 2003 global attitudes survey by the Washington-based Pew Research Center for the People and the Press noted.
Nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of respondents in Pakistan
say they have "a lot of confidence" in Osama bin Laden to "do the right thing regarding world affairs," and another 21 per cent say they have "some" confidence. Just 27 per cent say they have little or no confidence in the al-Qaeda leader.
America`s image continues to suffer in Pakistan. Just 13
per cent have a favourable opinion of the US, while 81 per
cent feel unfavourably. Most of those with a negative view say it is mostly because of US President George W Bush, not a more general problem with the United States.
Nearly half (47 per cent) say they are "very worried"
that the US could become a military threat to Pakistan some
day.
Sixty per cent of respondents think Iraqis will be in
worse shape with Saddam Hussein out of power; just 17 per cent say things will be better for the Iraqi people now.
Only 16 per cent support the US-led war on terrorism.
Fifty-seven percent believe that the rights and needs of
the Palestinian people cannot be taken care of as long as the
state of Israel exists. Just 23 per cent are more optimistic
that the two can coexist successfully.
Bureau Report
