Pakistanis hate Taliban as much as the US, says poll

October 5th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Fifty-one percent or one out of two Pakistanis think that President Asif Ali Zardari is a popular politician, while 47 percent oppose it, a new survey has revealed. Zardari's visit to the US was favoured by only 33 per cent of the respondents and opposed by 60 per cent, according to the Democracy International and Public Poll International survey.

August 20th, 2009 NEW YORK - The United States is trying hard to change the mindset of the Pakistanis regarding its policies, but it seems that all such efforts have hardly had an effect. During an interview recently, the new US Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Judith McHale was at the receiving end of flak showered at her by a Pakistani journalist, Ansar Abbasi.

August 18th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Majority of Pakistanis are against the suicide attacks being carried out in the country by banned terror outfits in the name of religion, a poll has revealed. According to a poll conducted by Washington's Pure Research Centre, 87 percent Pakistanis did not support the suicide attacks.

August 14th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Concerned over a new public opinion poll in Pakistan showing that 64 percent Pakistanis see America as the enemy, Defence Secretary Robert Gates says the US must maintain relationships with Pakistan for the long term to build trust. The poll saying only 9 percent of Pakistanis see the US as a partner is disturbing to defence leaders, but not surprising, he said during a Pentagon news conference Thursday.

August 13th, 2009 Poll: Pakistanis oppose Taliban, still revile USISLAMABAD — Pakistanis' views on the Taliban have shifted dramatically in the past year, with 70 percent now opposing the militants, according to a new poll. The United States doesn't fare well either, with 64 percent of Pakistanis seeing Washington as an enemy.

July 2nd, 2009 WASHINGTON - Most Pakistanis believe that the Taliban fighters are a "critical threat" to their country and support the ongoing offensive in the Swat valley, according to a survey. An overwhelming 87 percent of Pakistanis think that the Taliban, who are fighting to overthrow the Afghan government, should not be allowed to have bases in Pakistan, showed the poll by the World Public Opinon (WPO), a US-based organisation working on public opinion on international issues.

July 2nd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The Taliban is loosing support among the people of Pakistan, as about 80 percent of them are against the banned outfit and have termed it a threat for the country, a survey has revealed. According to a World Public Opinion (WPO) report, about 80 percent of the Pakistanis are against the Taliban.

July 1st, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Most Pakistanis consider the Taliban and Al Qaeda militants as threat to the country, but still do not regard the US and President Barack Obama as friends, a poll showed Wednesday. The poll conducted by the Programme 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.

July 1st, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan Army's desire to kill Indians and spare Pakistanis is making them ineffective against the Pak-Taliban, senior political scientist Christine Fair has said. The Daily Times quoted Fair of the RAND Corporation, as saying that several Pakistani officers had told her they had joined the army to kill Indians, not Pakistanis.

June 5th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - A year ago, the Pakistani public was deeply divided over the Taliban. Some saw the Taliban as fellow Muslims and native sons who simply wanted Islamic law, and many opposed direct military action against them.

May 12th, 2009 NEW YORK - Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari may have 'impressed' the United States by announcing an all out war against the Taliban and other extremists in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), but he does not seem to have much support back home, as only 19 percent of Pakistanis approve of his move. According to an opinion poll released by the Washington based International Republican Institute, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has emerged stronger than Zardari, in the current volatile situation, as 75 percent of Pakistanis support him.

May 12th, 2009 WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD - As many as 42 percent Pakistanis -- nearly every other citizen of the country -- hold India responsible for the Nov 26 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, according to a new opinion poll. 'When asked if they believed it to be true that the attacks were carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), only seven percent replied yes, another seven percent replied maybe, and 78 percent said no.

May 12th, 2009 NEW YORK - Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari's recent claim that he does not consider India as a threat to his country, is not at all supported by a majority of Pakistanis, an opinion poll has shown. According Washington based International Republican Institute poll, there is an intriguing split in attitude towards India, with 45 percent favourable towards India, and 52 percent unfavourable.

May 12th, 2009 WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD - As many as 42 percent Pakistanis -- nearly every other citizen of the country -- hold India responsible for the Nov 26 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, according to a new opinion poll. 'When asked if they believed it to be true that the attacks were carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), only seven percent replied yes, another seven percent replied maybe, and 78 percent said no.

May 2nd, 2009 KARACHI - A majority of Pakistani civilians are of the view that the presence of allied forces led by the United States poses a bigger threat to them rather than the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. According to an annual assessment report of Pakistan issued by an US think tank, Centre for American Progress, more Pakistanis consider US presence in Asia as a threat to their country.