US and Pakistan
A poll found that most Americans think Pakistan along with Iran and North Korea are among the most unfriendly countries of the world. At the bottom of the heap is, of course, North Korea, followed by Iran and Pakistan. About 90% of the Americans consider all these countries are a threat to the American security and must be treated as such.
As opposed to this negative view about Pakistan, Iran and North Korea, most Americans think Canada is the most friendly country to the United States, closely followed by Britain at 87 per cent. Germany ranked third with Japan, India and France coming next. While the European countries have always been considered as friendly countries, the emergence of India as one of the most friendly countries to the United States is a new phenomenon. Increasingly, India is seen as a vibrant democracy and a fast growing economy. Most Americans think that forging strong relations with India should be the priority of all US administrations.
With the Taliban slaughtering fellow Pakistanis while the Pakistanis continue to blame the United States, this should serve as a wake up call. Pakistan can no longer afford to keep a blind eye on terrorist activities directed against America and India while calling itself an ally of America. With anti-American sentiments rampant among Pakistanis, the Americans are naturally sceptical about Pakistan's claim as a strategic partner against terrorism. Pakistan can no longer play the double game of propping up the so-called "good Taliban" who are targeting the American forces in Afghanistan while fighting the "bad Taliban" who are attacking civilians in Pakistan. Normalisation of relations with India will go a long way to convince the world that Pakistan is truly committed to fighting religious extremists who are also slaughtering Pakistanis in the name of religion.
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