Anti-American sentiment in Pakistan

Anti-American sentiment in Pakistan has been evident through public demonstrations, general public opinion of USA being a morally corrupt nation and anti Islamic and burning of the flag of the United States.[1] When measured in 2009 Pakistan was amongst the countries with the strongest such antipathy.[2] Pakistanis have the least favorable view of USA compared to any other major country, as per various surveys. Americans are seen as vain, un-Islamic, invaders, inhumane and morally corrupt. According to Anatol Lieven, anti-American sentiment in Pakistan is characterised more by religious undertones mixed with political hostilities rather than racial undertones. USA is seen as an usurper of Islamic hegemony over the world as deemed by God. [3]

The raid on the compound of Osama bin Laden inflamed anti-American sentiments in Pakistan.

The idea is that, though there may be some aggressive people and groups, they represent a minuscule percentage of the Muslim societies. Due to these, movements like ‘The war on terror’ and their people, are seen in some ways as the terrorists themselves by causing, literally, terror. [4]

Reasons for unpopularity have included cultural issues and US foreign policy actions. Cultural grievances have been perceived affronts to Islam by US citizens.[5] Unpopular foreign policy actions have included U.S. military actions on Pakistani soil such as drone attacks,[6][7] the operation to kill Osama Bin Laden[8][9] and the 2011 NATO attack in Pakistan, as well CIA activities such as the Raymond Allen Davis incident, and the perceived inadequate US response to the humanitarian crisis of the 2010 Pakistan floods.[10]

A 2014 Pew Research Center poll suggested that 59% of Pakistanis viewed the United States either very unfavorably or somewhat unfavorably, down from 80% in 2012.[11]

During the 2022 Pakistani constitutional crisis, PTI leader Imran Khan named the United States as the country in question over a 'threatening letter' and blames America for his downfall,[12] according to a survey by Gallup Pakistan, most Pakistanis were ‘angry’ about the removal of Khan as prime minister, and close to a majority believe his claims that his downfall was due to an American ‘regime change’ campaign.[13]

See also

References
  1. "Protester dies after inhaling fumes from burning American flag". Fox News. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  2. "Strongest anti-American sentiment in Serbia, Pakistan". B92. 7 July 2009. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  3. Mishra, Pankaj (1 May 2011). "Pakistan: A Hard Country by Anatol Lieven – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  4. Smith, William (25 September 2020). "The truth about the war on terror". The Hill. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  5. Afzal, Madiha (14 November 2013). "On Pakistani anti-Americanism". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  6. Ghund, Yukka (22 January 2006). "Pakistan seeks to quell anti-American sentiments". USA Today/The Associated Press. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  7. Stack, Liam (8 July 2009). "Fresh drone attacks in Pakistan reignite debate". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  8. "Bin Laden anniversary delicate moment for Obama, Romney". Chicago Tribune. 25 April 2012.
  9. "Pakistan's flood victims give USAID chief an earful". CNN. 25 August 2010. Archived from the original on 29 August 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
  10. McGivering, Jill (21 August 2010). "Pakistani flood victims' anger at US". BBC News. Archived from the original on 22 August 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  11. Craig, Tim (3 May 2015). "After years of tension, anti-American sentiment ebbs in Pakistan". The Washington Post. WP Company LLC. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  12. "Why Pakistan's politicians play the anti-America card". DW.
  13. "Pakistan's foreign policy reset hits a dead end". The Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Retrieved 13 July 2022.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.