Anti-American sentiment in Pakistan

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

Anti-American sentiment in Pakistan has been evident through public demonstrations 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] According to Anatol Lieven, anti-American sentiment in Pakistan is characterised more by political hostilities rather than racial or religious undertones.[3]

Reasons for unpopularity have included cultural issues and US foreign policy actions. Cultural grievances have been perceived affronts to Islam by US citizens.[4] Unpopular foreign policy actions have included U.S. military actions on Pakistani soil such as drone attacks,[5][6] the unilateral operation to kill Osama Bin Laden[7][8] 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.[9] The slogan "Death to America" is a common refrain among politicians and rallies in Pakistan.[10][11]

For most of its history, Pakistan has had turbulent relations with the United States, leading to deep-rooted public antipathy. 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.[12] According to a Gallup survey, 72% of the population thinks the U.S. is an enemy and 80% of PTI supporters consider the same.[13]

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,[14] 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.[15]

  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. ^ Afzal, Madiha (14 November 2013). "On Pakistani anti-Americanism". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  5. ^ Ghund, Yukka (22 January 2006). "Pakistan seeks to quell anti-American sentiments". USA Today/The Associated Press. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  6. ^ Stack, Liam (8 July 2009). "Fresh drone attacks in Pakistan reignite debate". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  7. ^ "Bin Laden anniversary delicate moment for Obama, Romney". Chicago Tribune. 25 April 2012.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "New Pakistan extremist movement leaves government powerless to act as it chants 'Death to America'". The Telegraph. 26 February 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  11. ^ "Pakistani MPs Chant 'Death to America' as They Reject Khan's No-Confidence Motion". Almasirah. 2022.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ Muhammad, A. Basit. "Pakistan at 75: A Long History of Anti-Americanism". The Diplomat. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Why Pakistan's politicians play the anti-America card". DW.
  15. ^ "Pakistan's foreign policy reset hits a dead end". The Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Retrieved 13 July 2022.