Islamabad - Most of Pakistanis consider Taliban and al Qaeda
related militants as a threat to the country, but still do not take
United States and President Barack Obama as friends, a poll showed
on Wednesday.
The poll conducted by the Program on International Policy
Attitudes at the University of Maryland last month found that those
considering actions of militants as dangerous for Pakistan rose from
34 percent to 81 percent since late 2007.
Nearly 75 per cent say that Pakistani Taliban's gaining control of
the country will be bad and 67 per cent say it will be 'very bad.'
Only 33 percent think that Taliban had the potential to gain the
control of the country.
The poll is based on random interviews of 1,000 adults across
Pakistan during May 17-28. The findings have a margin of error of
plus or minus 3.2 percentage points.
A large majority of the Pakistanis also think that Taliban groups
trying to overrun the Afghan government led by Hamid Karzai should
not be allowed to enjoy safe areas on Pakistani territory.
However, the predominantly anti-American attitude of the Pakistani
public has not changed, showed the findings.
The public had swung due to recent fighting in Swat and three
neighboring districts after the local militants failed to observe the
peace deal. So far 1600 militants have been killed in the fighting
that also displaced over 2.5 million people.
Locals in certain districts raised private armies called as
'lashkars' to fight the Taliban. They have been supporting army
identifying hideouts of the militants, and coming up with information
to help army carry out precise attacks.
'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,' said Clay Ramsay, research director.
But it is 'crucial to understand that the US is resented just as
much as before, despite the US having a new president,' he added.
Around 62 per cent those questioned said they did not have
confidence in Obama. Only 32 per cent said they believe his policies
would be better than those of his predecessor George W Bush. An
overwhelming majority opposed US drone attacks in Pakistan's tribal
region.
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