Most Pakistanis back war against militants - poll

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - A majority of Pakistanis support military action against Islamist militants although more people blame the United States for the violence than blame the Taliban, a poll released on Tuesday showed.

Pakistan's army launched an offensive against Pakistani Taliban militants in their stronghold in the South Waziristan region on the Afghan border on Oct. 17 after a string of militant bomb attacks and commando raids on urban targets.

The militants are being squeezed out of their strongholds but have retaliated by stepping up bomb attacks.

Many Pakistanis are suspicious of the government's support for the U.S-led global campaign against violent militancy and many have long opposed military action against Islamists.

But political analysts say the numerous bomb attacks in towns and cities over recent months have convinced many that action is necessary.

According to a Gilani Research Foundation poll conducted by Gallup Pakistan, an affiliate of Gallup International, 51 percent of people support the government offensive.

"There is cautious support in Pakistani public opinion for the military action currently underway in South Waziristan," the research group said.

Thirteen percent of more than 2,700 people surveyed across the country opposed the military action while 36 percent said they were unsure.

While a majority supported the action, only 25 percent of respondents said the Islamists were responsible for the offensive with 35 percent blaming the United States and 31 percent the government.