Most Indians for military use to check terror

More than three-fifth of Indians support the use of military force to defeat the scourge of terrorism, according to a latest Pew Survey released on Monday. The survey report says about half of the respondents disapprove of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Pakistan policy.

"With roughly half (52 per cent) of the Indian public worried that ISIS poses a major threat to their country, about six-in-ten (62 per cent) believe that overwhelming military force is the best way to defeat terrorism around the world. Just 21 per cent say that relying too much on such force creates hatred that leads to more terrorism," said Pew Research Center in its report running into 40 pages.

While 68 per cent of the respondents feel that India is playing a more important role in the world than it was doing 10 years ago, the Pew Research Center in its annual survey, which was conducted among 2,464 respondents from April 7 to May 24, said half of the respondents disapproved of Modi's management of India's volatile relationship with Pakistan. 

His Pakistan policy is approved by just 22 per cent, said the survey, which was conducted after the Pathankot Air Force base attack.

"However, over half of BJP supporters (54 per cent) and a plurality of Congress adherents (45 per cent) disapprove of the PM’s handling of relations with Pakistan," the report said. Pew said Indians are ready to support more defence spending.