Asia

Pakistanis, Afghans Unconvinced by Gov't Anti-Terror Efforts

Half say government isn't doing enough

March 17, 2010

Gallup surveys in Pakistan and Afghanistan last year show citizens' evaluations of how their governments are fighting terrorism changed little despite major military operations and troop surges. Half of residents in each country said their respective government isn't doing enough to combat terrorism.More ...

Fewer Afghans See Corruption Increasing in Their Country

Most still perceive corruption as widespread in government, business

March 4, 2010

Gallup surveys document some positive momentum in Afghans' views about the level of corruption in their country following the country's election in August 2009. The number of Afghans saying corruption levels were higher than they were five years ago continued to decline, dropping below 50% for the first time.More ...

Afghans Assess Roles for NATO, U.N., Regional Actors

Reconstruction viewed as the top job, currently and ideally

November 20, 2009

Afghans surveyed in June see NATO, the United Nations, India, and Iran playing roles in reconstruction more than anything else -- in line with what Afghans say they should do. However, Afghans are as likely to see Pakistan’s role as supporting the Taliban as helping with reconstruction.More ...

Karzai Faces Steep Climb to Curb Perceptions of Corruption

Pre-election surveys show Afghans perceive widespread government corruption

November 10, 2009

With newly re-elected Afghan President Hamid Karzai promising to fight corruption in his country, Gallup surveys underscore the extent of the challenge he faces. Before the marred election season, 81% of Afghans said corruption was widespread and 69% said their government wasn’t doing enough to fight it.More ...

Many in Asia Wait to Rate New U.S. Administration

Approval down in three of eight countries polled

September 23, 2009

Across eight Asian countries Gallup surveyed, approval of U.S. leadership is down slightly in 2009 compared with 2008, in large part attributable to an increase in the percentage who did not have an opinion. In Afghanistan and Pakistan, approval of U.S. leadership remains steady.More ...

Few Voting-Age Afghans Confident Election Will Be Fair

Half still say voting is effective way to bring about positive change

August 18, 2009

As Afghans head to the polls Thursday to vote in the second presidential election in the young democracy’s history, a Gallup Poll shows 50% of voting-age Afghans believe in elections, but fewer than one in four (24%) are confident that this one will be fair.More ...

Even Before Dispute, Iranians Split on Honesty of Elections

Urban Iranians far less likely than rural Iranians to express trust

June 16, 2009

A Gallup Poll conducted in Iran in 2008 found Iranians divided on the honesty of their elections before last week’s disputed presidential election, with 50% saying they were confident and 40% saying they were not. Rural Iranians (66%) were nearly twice as likely as urban Iranians (36%) to express trust.More ...

Iran’s Election Brings Desire for Women’s Rights Into Focus

Men and women agreed in 2007 that women should have certain freedoms

June 11, 2009

Long before women’s rights emerged as one of many salient issues in Iran’s presidential election Friday, Gallup Polls found majorities of Iranians in favor of the government guaranteeing women certain rights.More ...

Pakistanis Generally See Taliban’s Influence as Negative

But many surveyed before offensive didn’t know or wouldn’t say

May 13, 2009

Before Pakistan’s recent military operation to dislodge the Taliban from the country’s North West Frontier Province, a Gallup Poll found nearly half of Pakistanis (47%) believed the Taliban’s presence has a negative influence, while 14% said it has a positive influence and 39% had no opinion.More ...

Opinion Briefing: U.S. Image in Middle East/North Africa

Iraq withdrawal among top actions residents say would improve opinions

January 27, 2009

The Obama administration faces an immense task in rebuilding the United States’ brand in the Middle East/North Africa, where the regional median approval of U.S. leadership is 15%. Gallup Polls suggest Obama’s plan to expedite withdrawal from Iraq could help improve some residents’ opinions.More ...