Americans out!

Americans out!

The Pew Research Centre’s Survey of Pakistan showed that the tide against the USA here was rising, once again showing that the Pakistani people are aware of what is being done to them, and do not share their rulers fascination with the USA, which has translated into a demeaning subservience. According to the Pew Centre Survey, which is not only non-partisan but has been conducted before, the people view the Taliban and Al-Qaeda more favourably than before, with approval going up to 15 and 18 percent, from 10 and nine percent respectively. However, the percentage supporting the USA in its fight against extremism has declined from 24 percent to 19 percent. Those seeing the Taliban as a very serious threat has gone down dramatically, from 57 percent to 34 percent, and Al-Qaeda from 41 percent to 21 percent. Only 11 percent of respondents see the USA as a partner, while the USA’s supporters have declined to 19 percent from an already dismal 24 percent.



The numbers confirm that Pakistanis have decided differently than their rulers about the War on Terror, and how that might translate in a future election is the positive rating of 71 percent for Mian Nawaz Sharif, as opposed to about 20 percent for President Asif Zardari, down from 64 percent two years ago, when he first assumed office. At the same time, the pro-Indian policy followed by the present government under American influence will backfire, because 52 percent still see India as the biggest threat the country faces. This figure, appearing in an American survey, should be more than an indication that the official appeasement policy has failed, and people want justice on the Kashmir issue, as well as the related issue of Kashmir.


Pakistani decision-makers must also realise that, apart from the growing domestic discontent, the primary lesson of the Survey is that it will persuade the USA to leave Afghanistan, as the country so crucial to its War on Terror is not inclined to support its ill-advised adventure. They must act before events overtake them.