Pakistan’s Own War on Pakistan’s Own War on Terror: What the Public ThinksTerror: What the Public Thinks

C. Christine FairC. Christine Fair

Journal of International Affairs, Journal of International Affairs, Fall/Winter 2009, Vol. Fall/Winter 2009, Vol. 63, No. 163, No. 1

Pakistani Support for Suicide Bombings Pakistani Support for Suicide Bombings and Annual Numbers of Suicide Attacks and Annual Numbers of Suicide Attacks

in Pakistanin Pakistan

2

2

7

4

756

59

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70 Oftenjustified

SometimesJustified

Rarelyjustified

Neverjustified

DK/Refused

Suicideattacks

Source: Pew, SATP

Agree or Disagree: Religious Extremism Agree or Disagree: Religious Extremism is a Serious Problem in Pakistan?is a Serious Problem in Pakistan?

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

June.07

Sept.07

Nov.07

Jan.08

Jun.08

Oct.08

Mar.09

Jul. 09

Agree Disagree DK/NR

Source: IRI

Agree or Disagree? The Taliban and Al Agree or Disagree? The Taliban and Al Qaeda Operating in Pakistan is a Serious Qaeda Operating in Pakistan is a Serious

ThreatThreat

0102030405060708090

100

Sept.07

Nov.07

Jan.08

Jun.08

Oct.08

Mar.09

Jul. 09

AgreeDisagreeDK/NR

Source: IRI

Provinces: Threat Posed by Activities of Provinces: Threat Posed by Activities of Islamist Militants and Local Taliban in Islamist Militants and Local Taliban in

FATA and Settled AreasFATA and Settled Areas

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

NWFP Punjab Balochistan Sindh

Critical threat Important, not critical threat Not a threat

Source: Fair, “Islamist Militancy in Pakistan: A View From the Provinces”

Do You Think that Pakistan Should Do You Think that Pakistan Should Cooperate with the United States on its Cooperate with the United States on its

War Against Terror?War Against Terror?

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

Sept.06

Jun.07

Nov.07

Jun.08

Mar.09

AgreeDisagreeDK/NR

Source: IRI

Agree or Disagree? I Support the Army Agree or Disagree? I Support the Army Fighting Extremists in NWFP and FATAFighting Extremists in NWFP and FATA

  

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Sept. 07 Nov. 07 Jan. 08 Jun. 08 Oct. 08 Mar. 09

Agree Disagree DK/NR

Source: IRI

Agree or Disagree? I Support the Army Agree or Disagree? I Support the Army Fighting Al QaedaFighting Al Qaeda

  

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Jun. 08 Oct. 08

Agree Disagree DK/NR

Source: IRI

Agree or Disagree? I Support the Army Agree or Disagree? I Support the Army Fighting The TalibanFighting The Taliban

  

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Jun. 08 Oct. 08

Agree Disagree DK/NR

Source: IRI

Agree or Disagree? I Support a Peace Agree or Disagree? I Support a Peace Deal with the ExtremistsDeal with the Extremists

  

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Sept. 07 Nov. 07 Jun. 08 Oct. 08 Mar. 09 Jul. 09

Agree Disagree DK/NR

Source: IRI

Provinces: Provinces: How much confidence do you How much confidence do you have in the way the military is handling have in the way the military is handling

the Pakistani Talibanthe Pakistani Taliban??

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

NWFP Punjab Balochistan Sindh

A lot Some Just a little None DK/DR

Source: Fair, “Islamist Militancy in Pakistan: A View From the Provinces”

Provinces: Provinces: Do you think the government Do you think the government “did the right thing” or “make a mistake” “did the right thing” or “make a mistake”

in forging the peace deal in Swat?in forging the peace deal in Swat?

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

NWFP Punjab Balochistan Sindh

Did the right thing Made a mistake DK/DR

Source: Fair, “Islamist Militancy in Pakistan: A View From the Provinces”