Most Pakistanis fear extremism, dislike Taliban: survey

WASHINGTON: In Pakistan 66 per cent people see religious extremism as a serious threat to their country, says a new survey released by a US think-tank.

The survey, by the Pew Research Centre, Washington, shows that bouts of violence, suicide bombings and fears of civil war in South Asia, the Middle East and Africa have increased concerns about religious extremism in countries with substantial Muslim populations.

The survey, conducted in spring 2014, shows that there are still 24pc people in Pakistan who do not see extremism as a serious threat. But when it comes to the Taliban, most among these 24pc also want to stay away from them.

Almost 60pc of the population in Pakistan sees the Taliban unfavourably. Only 8pc have a favourable view of this extremist organisation.

Given the violent nature of this group, which practices targeted killings for assassinating its opponents, a third of Pakistanis are reluctant to offer an opinion.

Views of the Taliban have not changed substantially in recent years.

Opinions towards specific branches of the Taliban, such as Tehreek-i-Taliban and the Afghan Taliban, are also negative.

In a spring 2013 survey, both those groups received low ratings in Pakistan — 56pc unfavourable and 47pc unfavourable, respectively.

And in the Middle East, concern about extremism is growing. Lebanese, Tunisians, Egyptians, Jordanians and Turks are all more worried about the extremist threat than they were a year ago.

Hezbollah, the militant organisation headquartered in Lebanon, is seen unfavourably in every country surveyed. In Pakistan, 8pc like it, 12pc dislike it and 81pc have no opinion.

Overall, most people surveyed also have an unfavourable impression of Hamas, a militant Palestinian organisation based in the Gaza Strip. In Pakistan, 8pc like it, 12pc dislike it and 79pc offer no opinion.