---
title: "Little Knowledge of Drone Strikes in Pakistan"
description: "Just a little more than a third of Pakistanis have heard about drone attacks targeting leaders of extremist organizations in their country."
date: "2010-08-12"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2010/08/12/little-knowledge-of-drone-strikes-in-pakistan/"
---

# Little Knowledge of Drone Strikes in Pakistan

Just a little more than a third of Pakistanis (35%) have heard about drone attacks targeting leaders of extremist organizations in their country. Among those who are knowledgeable about the drones, however, opinion is nearly universally negative. Fully 93% of those who have heard about the strikes say they are a bad thing. A third (32%) with knowledge of the drones say they are necessary to defend Pakistan from extremist groups, but a 56%-majority say they are not. About half (49%) of Pakistanis who have heard about the strikes think they are being conducted without their government’s approval, while 33% disagree with this opinion. [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/pubs/1683/pakistan-opinion-less-concern-extremists-america-image-poor-india-threat-support-harsh-laws)