The results have been revealed after one of the closest presidential election seasons in America’s history: Barack Obama has secured another four years in the White House.
But the reactions to the news across the US and the world are far from unanimous. While some people screamed with joy, others were dismayed and disappointed over Republican candidate Mitt Romney’s loss. http://news.linktv.org/videos/world-reacts-to-obama-victory-with-ecstasy-relief-caution .
The latter could be best illustrated by mentioning Pakistan’s response to the election result. According to a statement issued by Pakistan’s ministry of foreign affairs , the Pakistani President Mr Asif Ali Zardari warmly felicitated President Barack Obama on his re-election as the president of the United States of America and also expressed the hope that the relationship between Pakistan and the US would continue to prosper during President Obama’s new term in office.
However, in reality, Pakistan was the only nation which least favored Obama to be re elected as the American President. In a BBC World Service pre-election opinion poll around the world, Pakistanis said they favoured Romney. Pakistan was the only country out of more than 20 sampled to do so. However, large numbers of people polled said they were indifferent to, or unaware of, the election. This reaction was because Obama’s first term was marked by a severe deterioration of relations between Pakistan and the US, especially since the killing of Osama bin Laden by US special forces in a northern Pakistani town in May last year. Obama said repeatedly during the campaign that the killing of Bin Laden was a major victory for US counter-terrorism and a key achievement of his presidency, much to the frustration of many Pakistanis. Controversial drone strikes, which are deeply unpopular in much of Pakistan and a technical breach of the country’s sovereignty, all happened during Obama’s reign.
Sources
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20008687
http://www.mofa.gov.pk/mfa/pages/article.aspx?id=1360&type=1
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/07/obama-wins-world-leader-react-_n_2087796.html