Indians and Pakistanis don’t trust each other, Bangladeshis seem to trust everyone: Survey

Indians and Pakistanis don’t trust each other, but Bangladeshis seem to trust everyone, a new survey by the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) has revealed. The survey was done with the CVoter Foundation to discover the changing viewpoints of the citizens of three South Asian nations - Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis - towards each other.

The report, titled South Asia in a Changing World, is the latest in a long list of conversations aimed at fostering more cooperation among the three nations.

The survey also shows that most people agreed that partition of the Indian subcontinent was the right call. It includes both the 1947 partition of India and Pakistan and the 1971 partition of Pakistan and Bangladesh (then called East Pakistan).

Add WION as a Preferred Source

Also Read |'Necessary steps will be taken': New Bangladesh government seeks extradition of ex-PM Sheikh Hasina from Indiav

“Partition is not something of the past, it is very much present. Our international and regional relations are really a reflection of our inability to solve the creation of new sovereignties, not once but twice over,” said journalist and foreign policy analyst C Raja Mohan at a panel discussion following the launch of the report in Delhi on August 29.

Watch |India-Bangladesh: What's next for India-Bangladesh relations?

The report does not account for the significant changes that have unfolded in any of the countries since 2002 - the 2024 general election in India, the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government, and the unofficial coup of Imran Khan by the Pakistani Army. The report instead, surveyed 12,258 people regarding their thoughts on Partition and vote-buying prevalence in their respective countries.

Key findings of the survey

- Around 78 per cent of Indian respondents surveyed said they don’t trust Pakistan, while 60 per cent of Pakistanis who participated in the study said they didn’t trust Indians. In contrast, 66 per cent of Bangladeshi respondents trust India and 63 per cent trust Pakistan.

- All the people surveyed said Partition was the right call; however, the number was lowest in India. While a majority of the respondents agreed that Partition was necessary, more Indians said they wished it could be reversed. This was in response to a hypothetical question: If a reversal of the 1947 India-Pakistan Partition is proposed, would you support it?

Also Read |Pakistan: Authorities crack down on 'fake' tourists heading to Middle East to beg

- Citizens were moderately satisfied with the economic development of their respective countries but were greatly optimistic about the future.

- While India and Bangladesh have had significant economic growth in recent years, panellists admitted to not having a reason to explain this optimism, especially in Pakistan.

- Similarly, citizens showed increasing religiosity, but at the same time, were also concerned about the rising influence of religious leaders. There is nostalgia about pre-Partition times, yet no real belief in the possibility of India and Pakistan being friends.

(With inputs from agencies)