Tensions in the Asian subcontinent are running at an all-time high, as India and Pakistan have deployed nearly a million troops along their borders and the Line of Control, the border between Indian- and Pakistani-administered Kashmir. Pakistan test-fired three potentially nuclear-capable missiles last week, contributing to an already contentious atmosphere. Further, Indian officials claim Pakistan is backing the infiltration of terrorists (including Taliban fighters from Afghanistan) into their country from the Pakistani-occupied portions of the disputed Kashmir region. Pakistani officials have denied these charges.
What does the American public think about this volatile situation? A majority believes a peaceful resolution to the conflict should be an important policy goal for the United States. When it comes to the major players, Americans have a generally favorable opinion of India, but view Pakistan more negatively and believe it is not a "trustworthy" or "friendly" nation.
Is Peace in South Asia a Priority?
President Bush has dispatched Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to India and Pakistan in an effort to ease tensions -- a move that will probably be viewed positively by the American public. A Gallup poll from February of this year* shows that 83% of Americans say the development of a peaceful solution to the situation between India and Pakistan should be a "very important" or "somewhat important" policy goal for the United States, with nearly half of the responses (47%) falling into the "very important" category.
Contextually, public opinion on this issue is comparable to public opinion on the perceived importance of resolving the Middle East conflict. In the same poll, 84% said peacefully resolving the Palestinian/Israeli situation was important, with 54% reporting that it is "very important."
Favorability of India and Pakistan
Americans' opinions of Pakistan are not very positive. A poll conducted in March 2002** shows that 31% of Americans have a favorable opinion of Pakistan while 48% have an unfavorable view. Additionally, when asked whether a series of descriptions apply to several countries; 75% of Americans said they do not think Pakistan is "trustworthy", and 65% said the word "friendly" does not apply to Pakistan. Moreover, over half of respondents (55%) said they think Pakistan is "arrogant." Women are more likely than men to describe Pakistan as arrogant -- 61% to 49%.
Public opinion on India, on the other hand, is more favorable than unfavorable. More than half of Americans -- 56% -- said they have a favorable opinion of India, while 33% have an unfavorable opinion of the country. These most recent results are similar to last year's, when 58% of Americans said they view India favorably, and are significantly higher than when Gallup first asked about the public about India in 2000 (47%).
*Results for the U.S. population are based on telephone interviews with 863 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted March 1-3, 2002. For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the margin of sampling error is ±4%. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.
**These results are based on telephone interviews with a randomly selected national sample of 1,011 adults, aged 18 and older, conducted Feb. 4-6, 2002. For results based on this sample, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum error attributable to sampling and other random effects is ±3%. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.
