WASHINGTON, Jan 27 A Gallup report, which reviews all surveys carried out by the prime opinion survey group of the US, of Pakistani public opinion in 2011, notes that the disapproval of US leadership in Pakistan soared to an all-time high of 85 per cent last year, dashing “hopes for achieving some normalcy between the nations”. But data collected later revived “some hopes”, because a sizable number of Pakistanis, 43 per cent, believe it is very important for Western and Muslim societies to get along.

Pakistan’s relations with the US remain on hold as the country continues to re-evaluate ties after a Nov 26 Nato air strikes killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in two security posts inside Pakistan.

The Gallup report shows how relations have strained gradually since May 2, when the US special forces, without informing Pakistan, raided a compound in Abbottabad and killed Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

The report notes that in mid-January media reports indicated that Pakistan was considering re-opening the supply routes that it closed to US and Nato forces in Afghanistan after the attack. “While such a move would be a sign of easing tensions, Pakistan is also reportedly considering tacking tariffs on to the goods that cross its borders,” the reports adds.

The US, however, is paying six times as much to send supplies to Afghanistan via alternate routes.

The Gallup report also points out that despite these tensions, the Obama administration has been trying to reach out to Pakistan, saying: “We believe we both need a strong, continuing, cooperative relationship across the range of important issues — political, economic, security.”

Results from a Gallup poll conducted May 9-12, immediately after the Abbottabad operation, underscored how difficult the task would be for Pakistan and the US to repair relations; now, that task is likely even more difficult.

Sixty-four pc of Pakistanis surveyed who were aware of the US action say it made them have a more negative opinion of the US, while 5 pc say it made them have a more positive opinion.

The 10 pc of Pakistanis who approved of US leadership after the military operation was down from 18 pc in 2010, but not meaningfully lower than what Gallup measured in 2008 and 2009.

Disapproval, however, soared to a record-high 85 pc.

While few Pakistanis overall approved of US leadership, those who were aware of the US action were slightly more likely to approve of US leadership (11 pc) than those who were not aware (4 pc). But the results also suggest there is resentment for the US action even among the Pakistanis who approve of US leadership. A majority of these Pakistanis say the action made them have more negative opinions of the US.

At the same time, Pakistanis did not place much faith in their own country’s leadership: 25 pc of Pakistanis in the May 9-12 survey said they were confident. The significant pressure the Pakistani government faces from within — particularly now with its civilian government in crisis — likely figures heavily into the likelihood of any normalcy in the relationship
between the two nations.

Pakistanis’ Views of the West: Although few Pakistanis give US leadership high marks, many more find it personally very important that Muslim societies and Western societies get along. As many as 43 pc of Pakistanis say it is very important to them that the two societies get along, up from 27 pc in 2010.

Pakistanis so far have been more likely to see Muslim societies investing more in this relationship than the West. Sixty-two pc of Pakistanis in April and May 2011 said Muslim societies respect the West, while 19 pc of Pakistanis say Western societies respect Muslim ones. A majority (55 pc) of Pakistanis said they do not believe the West
respects Muslim societies.

At the same time, Pakistanis remained more mixed on what greater interaction between Western and Muslim societies means for them. Overall, they lean more towards seeing it as offering more of a threat than a benefit. Thirty-nine pc of Pakistanis viewed greater interaction as a threat, while 31 pc viewed it as more of a benefit and another 31 pc said they did
not know. Policy Implications: “The US and Pakistan have a long way to go before they can establish a ‘new normal’ in relations” and “get back to the full range of business together”.

A full reset is likely impossible before the next US presidential election in November, meaning the issue will remain a key foreign policy challenge for the next president, whether Mr
Obama or someone else.