Pakistan is a strange country. On one side it has been ravaged by terrorism from within and from Taliban sponsored terror from Afghanistan and on other side it continues to favor terror, although indirectly by not acting against groups such as LeT which targets India.
Here’ a report by Pew Global Attitudes Project about how extremism is on the rise in Pakistan society. All of us in India get to hear things like how ‘civil’ society in Pakistan is moderate but the survey shows something different. Not only an average Pakistani support organizations like LeT but they disapprove of anyone who tries to improve relationships with India. An average Pakistani respect their army and Army Chief Kayani, who has no interest in improving relations with India and see India as a major threat. But the same Pakistani disapprove of President Zardari, who has tried in past to improve relationships with the big neighbor.
The survey also shows that an average Pakistani is turning more and more hostile towards America in spite of receiving millions of dollars of aid and arms from USA. Most Pakistanis think that terrorism is a big problem however what they mean is the terrorism which affects them is a problem, as they continue to soft support terrorists affecting neighbors.
The report clearly shows that Pakistan society is accepting more and more extremism as the way forward, something which Indian right-wingers have been saying for years. There is absolutely no change happening in Pakistan’s attitude towards west and India, on the contrary it is going the other way. Would moderates and Pakistan sympathizers in India and the West ever listen?
Yeh Mera India 