Pakistan has banned Tehrik-e-Taliban after turning down a ceasefire deal. The public, however, does not seem to favor the governmentÂ’s hard line against militants.
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The recent decision by the ruling coalition to ban the Taliban group also comes without public support. A poll by the U.S. nonprofit organization Terror Free Tomorrow indicates that “58% of Pakistanis want their government to negotiate with Taliban fighters inside Pakistan; just 19% want the army to keep fighting them,” USA Today reports. Also, a poll by the International Republican Institute reveals that, “71% of Pakistanis oppose their country’s cooperation in the U.S. war on terror.” President Musharraf was as military leader who could make decisions without public support; the new government elected by the people should find it much more difficult to do so. |