Pakistanis Criticize U.S. Action That Killed Osama Bin Laden

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A new Gallup poll finds almost two-thirds of Pakistanis condemn the U.S. military operation that killed Osama bin Laden -- a sharp contrast to Americans' nearly universal approval of the action. Sixty-four percent of all Pakistanis surveyed a week after the operation said they disapproved; 10% approved, 23% were still unaware of the incident, and 3% did not have an opinion.

Although the news about the U.S. military operation that killed bin Laden near Abbottabad, Pakistan, had not reached all Pakistanis by the time the survey took place May 9-12, 82% of Pakistanis who did know about the incident disapproved, while 13% approved.

Pakistanis Would Have Preferred to See Bin Laden Captured Alive

Pakistanis and Americans are also at odds on what should have happened to bin Laden. The plurality of Pakistanis (41%) said he should have been captured, rather than killed, and half as many (22%) said neither should have happened. Eight percent said he should have been killed. Among Pakistanis who were aware of the action, 52% said bin Laden should have been captured, rather than killed, and 29% said he should neither have been captured nor killed.

The majority of Americans (60%), however, when asked a similar question, said bin Laden should have been killed, and 33% said he should have been captured alive.

Nearly 9 in 10 Dislike That Operation Took Place Without Government Knowledge

Regardless of how they feel about bin Laden's killing, Pakistanis who were aware of the operation disapprove that it was carried out inside Pakistan without the government's knowledge. Nearly 9 in 10 of these Pakistanis disapproved, which suggests they may perceive it as a violation of sovereignty, as former President Pervez Musharraf recently told Newsweek. "There is one downside to [the death of bin Laden], and this is the violation of the sovereignty of Pakistan," he said. "I strongly believe that, and the people of Pakistan are very sensitive to this."

Pakistanis See Themselves as Less Safe From Terrorism

While a slight majority of Americans (54%) believe bin Laden's death will make the U.S. safer from terrorism, Pakistanis, who have often been the targets of terrorism in recent years, feel vulnerable. Before the suicide attacks in northwest Pakistan on Friday -- which the Pakistani Taliban claimed were revenge for bin Laden's death -- nearly half of all Pakistanis (46%) said his death made their country less safe from terrorism. Sixty percent of Pakistanis who were aware of the U.S. operation felt more at risk.

The fact that the U.S. found and killed bin Laden in Pakistan did not particularly boost Pakistanis' confidence in their country's efforts, either. Half of Pakistanis who are aware of the U.S. operation said it made them less confident in their country's efforts to fight terrorism, while 15% said it made them more confident and 26% volunteered that it made no difference. Gallup surveys in 2010, well before bin Laden's death, showed many Pakistanis felt the government's anti-terrorism efforts were falling short.

Implications

Americans' and Pakistanis' different reactions to the operation and bin Laden's death illustrate the wide gulf that exists in their respective perceptions about the war on terrorism and Pakistan's participation. Although news reports suggest bin Laden's killing has angered many Pakistanis, the perceived attack on their country's sovereignty perhaps hurts them more.

U.S. Sen. John Kerry's visit to Pakistan aimed to defuse the situation, but if both countries want to rebuild trust they will need to demonstrate shared commitment. Additional Gallup analyses in the coming days will cover the operation's effect on Pakistanis' views of U.S.-Pakistan relations, as well as their views of their own leadership's handling of the situation.

For complete data sets or custom research from the more than 150 countries Gallup continually surveys, plesae contact SocialandEconomicAnalysis@gallup.com or call 202.715.3030.