2006年VOA标准英语-India, Pakistan Agree to Form Joint Anti-Terror

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
15 November 2006

India and Pakistan, during two days of peace talks in the Indian capital, have agreed on measures to combat terrorism and reduce the risk of nuclear accidents. The talks have revived a peace process that stalled four months ago after deadly train bombings in India's financial hub, Mumbai.

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At the end of two days of talks between the top diplomats¹ of India and Pakistan, the two countries on Wednesday announced the establishment of a three-member panel to share information and combat terrorism.

The decision to set up such a mechanism² was made by the heads of the two countries after India accused Pakistan's spy agency of aiding deadly bombings on commuter³ trains in Mumbai in July. New Delhi says it will provide evidence of this to Islamabad after completing legal processes at home.

However, Indian officials say they have handed over what they call "proof" to their counterparts that Pakistan-backed Islamic extremists carried out bombings in New Delhi in October of last year, and in Varanasi in March.

Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon said he hopes Islamabad will take action against these groups based on New Delhi's evidence.

"It is the cross-border links that we raise with Pakistan, and that the anti-terrorism mechanism gives us a way of dealing⁴ with," said Menon. "Now that we have given some information, this mechanism, we hope, will meet soon and we hope that it will take some action."

Riaz Mohammed Khan talks to reporters in New Delhi, Wednesday Nov. 15, 2006

Pakistani Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammed Khan said both countries are victims of terrorism and need to work together. He said "finger-pointing" at Pakistan following terror attacks in India is counterproductive.

The nuclear-armed neighbors also finalized⁵ a pact⁶ on reducing the risk from atomic accidents, and said it would be signed soon.

However, little progress was reported on the main dispute that has troubled India-Pakistan relations for decades - the Himalayan region of Kashmir, which is divided between the two but claimed in its entirety by both. India has ruled out troop reductions in the part of Kashmir it controls, saying militant⁷ attacks continue to rock the region.

Pakistan's Khan called for a speedier resolution of the dispute.

"An opportunity exists by virtue⁸ of the improved relations between the two countries and by virtue of the conducive⁹ international environment to address the issue and resolve it," he said.

Khan also urged India to reduce troops on the Siachen glacier¹⁰, 5,500 meter-high, icy battlefield in Kashmir where Indian and Pakistani troops have faced off since 1984.

But India said there is a "gap between the position of the two countries" on that question, suggesting that there will no change for the moment.

Despite their differences, both sides reiterated¹¹ their commitment to resolving their disputes and normalizing relations through negotiations¹².

1 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

3 commuter   

n.(尤指市郊之间)乘公交车辆上下班者

参考例句：

• Police cordoned off the road and diverted commuter traffic. 警察封锁了道路并分流交通。
• She accidentally stepped on his foot on a crowded commuter train. 她在拥挤的通勤列车上不小心踩到了他的脚。

4 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

5 finalized   

vt.完成（finalize的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The draft of this article has been finalized [done]. 这篇文章已经定稿。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The draft was revised several times before it was finalized. 稿子几经删改才定下来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 pact   

n.合同，条约，公约，协定

参考例句：

• The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。
• The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。

7 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

8 virtue   

n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力

参考例句：

• He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。
• You need to decorate your mind with virtue.你应该用德行美化心灵。

9 conducive   

adj.有益的，有助的

参考例句：

• This is a more conducive atmosphere for studying.这样的氛围更有利于学习。
• Exercise is conducive to good health.体育锻炼有助于增强体质。

10 glacier   

n.冰川，冰河

参考例句：

• The glacier calved a large iceberg.冰河崩解而形成一个大冰山。
• The upper surface of glacier is riven by crevasses.冰川的上表面已裂成冰隙。

11 reiterated   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• "Well, I want to know about it,'she reiterated. “嗯，我一定要知道你的休假日期，"她重复说。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some twenty-two years later President Polk reiterated and elaborated upon these principles. 大约二十二年之后，波尔克总统重申这些原则并且刻意阐释一番。

12 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。