Almost half of Pakistanis believe Taliban govt will promote terrorism, drugs’ smuggling: survey – Press Release

[ad_1]

A Taliban fighter looks on as he stands at the city of Ghazni, Afghanistan August 14, 2021. Photo: Reuters
A Taliban fighter looks on as he stands at the city of Ghazni, Afghanistan August 14, 2021. Photo: Reuters
  • 47% people think terrorism would increase in Pakistan and law and order situation will deteriorate, reports Ipsos survey. 
  • Survey findings reveal 21% Pakistanis think Taliban govt will lead to increase in trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
  • Increased number of Afghan refugees will become a burden for Pakistan, say 19% of respondents. 

Almost half of Pakistanis think the Taliban government in Afghanistan will lead to a rise in terrorism, deteriorate the law and order situation in Pakistan and lead to a rise in the smuggling of drugs and arms, revealed the findings of an Ipsos survey. 

The marketing company published the findings of a survey intended to capture the perceptions of Pakistanis about a government in Afghanistan spearheaded by the Taliban, and what impact it would have in the country. 

The survey was conducted on a sample size of 1,020 people from August 26 to September 2, and was published on September 7. 

Sample profile:

Sixty-eight percent of those who partook in the survey were men, while only 32% of the respondents were women. 

Age: 

18-25: 15% of the sample size

26-30: 19% of the sample size

31-40: 40% of the sample size

41-50: 18% of the sample size

51-65: 7% of the sample size

Geographically speaking, the majority of the respondents of the survey hailed from urban areas, 77% to be exact, while 23% hailed from rural areas. 

Findings of the survey

When asked what impact the Afghan Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan will have on Pakistan, 47% of the people thought it would lead to an increase in terrorism in Pakistan and increased threats to the law and order situation of the country. 

Some of the respondents showed optimism as well, with 21% saying it would lead to increased trade between both countries. Another 19% thought that an increased number of Afghan refugees would become a problem for Pakistan, while 16% thought the trafficking of drugs would increase into Pakistan from the neighbouring country. 

Fifteen percent of the respondents feared an increase in arms smuggling from Afghanistan, while 12% said that a Taliban government in Afghanistan would lead to the spread of Islam in Pakistan as well. 

Almost half of Pakistanis believe Taliban govt will promote terrorism, drugs smuggling: survey

Only 11% thought a Taliban government would ensure a reduction of cross-border terrorism. 

Only 1 in 4 Pakistanis thought the PTI govt is capable of handling the deteriorating law and order situation in Pakistan

Seventy-five percent of the respondents did not think the PTI government can overcome a crisis situation in Pakistan if the law and order situation in Pakistan deteriorates due to the Taliban government in Afghanistan, revealed the survey. 

Almost half of Pakistanis believe Taliban govt will promote terrorism, drugs smuggling: survey

Taliban announce interim govt

The Taliban on Tuesday announced the first members of a new “acting” government, three weeks after sweeping into full power with the takeover of Kabul, on August 15.

“The cabinet is not complete, it is just acting,” spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid had said in a press conference at the Government Information and Media Centre in Kabul.

“We will try to take people from other parts of the country,” he added.

The list for the interim government contains 33 names. Some of the key appointments are outlined below:

  • Taliban veteran, Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund – acting prime minister
  • Taliban co-founder, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar – acting deputy prime minister
  • Taliban negotiator in Doha, Amir Khan Muttaqi – acting foreign minister
  • Abas Stanikzai – acting deputy foreign minister
  • Son of Taliban founder and late supreme leader Mullah Omar, Mullah Yaqoob – acting defense minister
  • Leader of the feared Haqqani network, Sirajuddin Haqqani – acting interior minister

[ad_2]