Washington - People in more than a dozen countries have a misperception of how Afghans feel about the presence of NATO in their country, a poll released Thursday shows.

The poll taken in 20 nations found that most of those surveyed believe the Afghans want NATO forces to leave, although the Afghans appear to disagree.

An average 53 per cent of the survey participants believe that most of the people of Afghanistan want NATO forces to leave now, while 30 per cent assume that most Afghans want the international forces to stay, according to the poll by WorldPublicOpinion. org.

"Even though there is widespread concern about the possibility of the Taliban regaining power, most people seem to be saying that the Afghan people should decide whether or when NATO forces leave," Steven Kull, the director of the organization, said.

The poll included nearly 20,000 people in countries which make up 62 per cent of the world population between April 4 and June 18. Among the nations polled were China, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Russia, South Korea and the US. Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau were also surveyed.

But Afghans themselves appear to disagree. The most recent survey data of the Afghan people in an ABC/BBC/ARD poll taken in January found 59 per cent of Afghans supporting the NATO presence.

That number was down from 67 per cent in 2007, with majorities expressing frustration with how the NATO mission was being managed, WorldPublicOpinion. org said. The increase of civilian casualties has also diminished support for the US-led presence.

Seventy-six per cent of those who concluded that Afghans want NATO out also believe the alliance should comply by leaving. Of those who think the Afghans want NATO to stay, 83 percent said they should do so.

Overall, only 37 per cent of those polled think the NATO mission should continue, while 50 per cent believe NATO should depart immediately. Despite the opposition to NATO's presence, most of the countries - 18 of the 20 - believe it would be dangerous if the Taliban regained power.

In Pakistan, where the Taliban take refuge along the border to avoid NATO forces, 61 per cent oppose the return of the Taliban to power.

The poll also showed that most Muslim countries dislike NATO's role in Afghanistan, particularly in Pakistan, where 86 per cent want NATO out of their neighbouring country. Sixty-seven per cent of Egyptian and 74 per cent of Palestinian respondents held that view. Similar sentiment was expressed in Russia, Germany and Mexico.

In all countries where more people believe the Afghans supported the NATO mission, the poll found that most support the US troop increase ordered by President Barack Obama this year to step up the fight against a resurgent Taliban.

Countries where a majority feel that the Afghan people want NATO to stay include India, Kenya, Nigeria and the US. In the largely Muslim Azerbaijan, 44 percent think the Afghans want NATO to stay, with 36 per cent disagreeing.(dpa)