The results of a poll conducted in Afghanistan between October and November 2007 indicate that Afghans oppose the Taliban and support both President Hamid Karzai and his American backers, along with their NATO allies. The poll, commissioned by the BBC World Service, ABC News and the German network ARD, involved interviews with 1,377 Afghans from different parts of the country.
Some results (taken from this PDF):
54% of Afghans believe their country is headed in the right direction. The biggest factor in this view is "good security". For those who believe Afghanistan is headed in the wrong direction, the biggest reason is problems with the economy.
According to 30% of Afghans, the biggest problem currently facing Afghanistan is "security/warlords/attacks/violence". According to 26%, the Taliban is the biggest problem.
"Security from crime and violence" was the biggest priority for the largest number of Afghans (28%). "Getting U.S. troops out of Afghanistan" was the topmost priority for only 3% of Afghans.
15% of Afghans rate work done by the current Afghan government as excellent, and 44% rate it as good.
26% of Afghans rate work done by Karzai as excellent, and 37% rate it as good.
8% of Afghans rate the role of the US in Afghanistan as excellent, and 35% rate it as good. 21% rate it as poor.
84% of Afghans want the current government to continue ruling the country. 4% would rather have the Taliban rule.
52% of Afghans believe that the Taliban is the biggest danger to the country. 10% think the US is.
Asked their opinion about the 2001 US invasion which toppled the Taliban government, 35% of Afghans rated the intervention as very good, and 40% rated it as mostly good.
20% of Afghans strongly support the presence of US troops in Afghanistan today, while 51% support it somewhat.
25% of Afghans strongly support the presence of NATO and ISAF forces in Afghanistan today, while 42% support it somewhat.
1% of Afghans strongly support the presence of foreign "Jihadi fighters" in Afghanistan, while 13% support it somewhat.
1% of Afghans strongly support Taliban fighters, while 4% support them somewhat.
Asked whom they blame the most for the violence seen in Afghanistan today, 36% fo Afghans named the Taliban, 22% named al-Qaeda and "foreign jihadis". 16% named the US or George Bush, and 3% blamed NATO and ISAF member-states.
42% of Afghans think the Taliban have grown stronger over the past year.
60% of Afghans believe that the government should negotiate a peace settlement with the Taliban.
74% of Afghans think that attacks against US forces in Afghanistan are not justified.
77% of Afghans think that attacks against non-American NATO or ISAF forces are not justified.
91% of Afghans think that attacks against the Afghan police or army are not justified.
94% of Afghans think that attacks against officials of the Afghan government are not justified.
42% of Afghans believe that US forces should leave the country only after security is restored there.
43% believe that non-US NATO and ISAF forces should leave only after security is restored in Afghanistan.
Only 3% of Afghans think the Taliban have a "very strong presence" in their area, while 7% think they have a "fairly strong presence".
By contrast, 11% of Afghans think that US/NATO/ISAF forces have a "very strong presence" in their area, and 39% think they have a "fairly strong presence".
3% of Afghans think that "foreign jihadis" have a "very strong presence" in their area, and 11% think they have a "fairly strong presence".
35% of Afghans are very confident and 47% are fairly confident that the Afghan government can provide security in their area.
1% of Afghans are very confident and 7% are fairly confident that the Taliban can provide security in their area.
12% of Afghans are very confident and 40% are fairly confident that US/NATO/ISAF forces can provide security in their area.
2% of Afghans are very confident and 10% are fairly confident that "foreign jihadis" can provide security in their area.
69% of Afghans believe the Pakistani government allows the Taliban to operate from its territory.
62% of Afghans believe the cultivation of opium is "unacceptable in all cases".
84% of Afghans think their government should "kill off" the poppy crop.
69% of Afghans have a very unfavourable view of the Taliban, while 15% have a somewhat unfavourable view of them.
76% of Afghans have a very unfavourable view of Osama bin Laden, while 11% have a somewhat unfavourable view of them.
48% of Afghans have a somewhat favourable view of the US, while 17% have a very favourable view of it.
38% of Afghans have a somewhat favourable view of the UK, while 11% have a very favourable view of it.
49% of Afghans have a somewhat favourable view of Germany, while 22% have a very favourable view of it.
38% of Afghans have a somewhat favourable view of Iran, while 14% have a very favourable view of it.
63% of Afghans have a very unfavourable view of Pakistan and 16% have a somewhat unfavourable view of it.
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