At the "Asia Pacific and Europe Media Dialogue," media-makers expressed their personal views on the political and social consequences the attacks had had on their respective countries.

"It is a human tragedy," said the director of Chinese Business Radio, Wang Lijun. "It happened six years ago, and at that time people were shocked. It"s something terrible and unheard of in history. We were thinking, as human beings, we should join hands to fight against this kind of terrorist attacks."

Since the devastating attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, most Asian countries -- from Afghanistan to China -- have followed the American call to fight terrorism. Zaza Yuzariahia from Indonesia’s Metro TV recalled:

"The impact of 9/11 in Asia was quite big because we suddenly realised that not one country in the world was safe against terrorism. Even a big superpower like America can’t be safe from terrorism."

More attacks

Since 2001, several more terrorist attacks have taken place all over the world, from Djerba to Bali, via Madrid and London. And they continue today, particularly in Iraq, Afghanistan and increasingly in Pakistan.

Many governments have chosen to tighten security in their countries, explained Pattareya Suman, the Director of National Broadcasting Services of Thailand.

"In Thailand, the media and the government are trying to make more security in our country. More security, that’s what we learnt from that happening. And we have also reported through our media about this event to warn people against terrorism."

Fading sympathies

Another obvious consequence of the 9/11 incidents was that the US took military action in Iraq and Afghanistan. And a negative aspect of US occupation in the region was that solidarity with the victims of 9/11 began to fade amid the growing presence of American soldiers, observed Indonesian TV journalist Zaza Yuzariahia. A latent hostility began to emerge, she added."

In a recently-published survey, the American online research institute worldpublicopinion.com documents a strong anti-American attitude in Asia. It states that more than 70 percent of the citizens in Pakistan, Indonesia, Egypt and Morocco are convinced that the US is striving to weaken the Islamic world.

About 40 percent think that this is the main goal of the American so-called "war on terror". The majority wants the American troops to be withdrawn from Islamic countries as soon as possible.

Even J.N. Sharma from India, who worked as a correspondent for the American Television channel ABC NEWS for more than 30 years, couldn't disguise his antipathy:

"The most hated President of America is Bush. It was never before. There was no need to go to Iraq. And I tell you they will come out from there like they came out of Vietnam. Or worse.

Exaggerated reactions

But the director of the Pakistan "Virtual Television Network", Daj Dar Alam thought that the reactions to 9/11 in the West, and especially in the United States, were exaggerated:

"This thing could have been settled. Attacks happen, bomb blasts happen all over the world, but such a severe reaction from the United States of America has actually turned almost everyone against America in Pakistan."

Before the 9/11 attacks, the United States were the Number One destination for Muslim scholars from Asia who went to study abroad. But in recent years their number has diminished drastically.

According to the Asian media representatives, Muslim academics are turning to Europe, East Asia or Australia these days for their studies. They want to avoid controls at US airports, which they consider discriminating and unacceptable, said Daj Dar Alam.