KABUL: A US organisation said Tuesday that 35 percent of Afghans believe their country is moving in the wrong direction, the highest level of dissatisfaction found since polling began in 2004.
The Asia Foundation cited insecurity as the main cause of growing pessimism in its annual public opinion poll of more than 6,000 people.
Although 46 percent still think Afghanistan is moving in the right direction, the proportion who do not rose by eight percentage points to 35 percent, its highest since the non-profit group started polling in the country.
It said 56 percent of those questioned fear for their safety, with concern highest in the southeast, while 22 percent say that they or one of their relatives has fallen victim to violence or crime in the last year.
The proportions who believe the country is moving in the right direction fell slightly -- by one percentage point from 2010 -- to 46 percent. Those respondents pointed to reconstruction efforts, good security and an improving education system as reasons for their optimism.
The study also recorded the lowest levels of sympathy yet with the Taliban, down to 29 percent from 40 percent in 2010, and strong public support at 82 percent for efforts to make peace with the insurgents
The Asia Foundation cited insecurity as the main cause of growing pessimism in its annual public opinion poll of more than 6,000 people.
Although 46 percent still think Afghanistan is moving in the right direction, the proportion who do not rose by eight percentage points to 35 percent, its highest since the non-profit group started polling in the country.
It said 56 percent of those questioned fear for their safety, with concern highest in the southeast, while 22 percent say that they or one of their relatives has fallen victim to violence or crime in the last year.
The proportions who believe the country is moving in the right direction fell slightly -- by one percentage point from 2010 -- to 46 percent. Those respondents pointed to reconstruction efforts, good security and an improving education system as reasons for their optimism.
The study also recorded the lowest levels of sympathy yet with the Taliban, down to 29 percent from 40 percent in 2010, and strong public support at 82 percent for efforts to make peace with the insurgents