Pew survey: 54% Indians, 43% Pakistanis see each other as greatest threat

A major survey by the Pew Research Center has laid bare the deep mutual animosity between India and Pakistan, with a majority of adults in both countries identifying the other as their single greatest threat. Conducted between February and May 2026 across South Asia, the findings reveal that nearly eight decades after the 1947 Partition, historical trauma and territorial disputes continue to shape public perceptions in both nuclear-armed neighbours.

In India, 54% of respondents named Pakistan as the greatest threat to their country, while China was the next most cited threat at 21%. In Pakistan, 43% identified India as their primary security threat, with Israel and the United States each registering at 24% — still far below the figure for India. These threat perceptions are closely tied to how each public views the other's commitment to peace.

The survey found that most Indians believe their own government and people are committed to good bilateral relations, but a majority say Pakistan's government and people are not. Pakistanis mirror this sentiment: they express confidence in their own side's commitment but doubt India's. This lack of trust appears to be a fundamental obstacle to any thaw in relations.

The numbers on bilateral perceptions are stark. Nearly nine in 10 Pakistanis hold an unfavourable view of India, with 73% describing their opinion as 'very unfavourable'. The sentiment cuts across demographic groups, suggesting hostility toward India is not confined to any particular section of Pakistani society. In India, 78% have an unfavourable view of Pakistan, including 65% who hold a very unfavourable opinion.

There is, however, a notable internal divide within India. Indian Muslims are somewhat more favourable toward Pakistan (21%) than Indian Hindus (6%), and they are also less likely to name Pakistan as their top threat (34% versus 57% among Hindus). This suggests that religious identity plays a role in shaping perceptions, though the overall sentiment remains overwhelmingly negative.

Pew's polling also shows this is not a temporary shift. Indian views of Pakistan have remained overwhelmingly negative for more than a decade, with favourable opinion never rising above 20% since 2013. Historical surveys show Pakistanis have similarly long held predominantly negative views of India, with favourable ratings ranging from single digits to about one-third.

The survey underscores that the India-Pakistan divide extends beyond bilateral relations into divergent worldviews. How each country perceives global powers and regional allies is influenced by this rivalry, further complicating international diplomacy in South Asia. The data paints a stark picture of two neighbours frozen in mutual distrust, with little indication of change in the near future.