2007年VOA标准英语-US Official Praises Pakistan in Fight Against E

By Daniel Schearf
Islamabad
12 September 2007

A top U.S. diplomat¹ has praised the sacrifices Pakistan has made in fighting the increasing problem of extremism. During a visit to the South Asia region, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte also said progress in Afghanistan has undermined support for the Taleban, despite growing violence in the country. Daniel Schearf reports for VOA from Islamabad.

 

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, left, with his Pakistani counterpart Riaz Mohammed Khan, Islamabad, 12 Sep 2007

Negroponte had praise Wednesday for Pakistan's efforts in fighting a growing threat from militant² Islamists.

The U.S. deputy secretary of state noted³ Pakistan has lost more than a 1,000 soldiers since 2001 in the fight against extremism, and has deployed⁴ a large contingent⁵ of soldiers to the volatile⁶ tribal⁷ border areas.

"There's no doubt whatsoever⁸ of Pakistan's commitment to restoring and establishing security in that part of the country, and (it) is more than doing its share in the war against terror," he said.

Negroponte made the comments Wednesday here in Islamabad, where he held a second round of a strategic talks with Pakistani officials.

Counter-terrorism efforts were at the top of the agenda.

The U.S. has pledged $750 million for Pakistan's three-pronged strategy of promoting security, dialogue, and development in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.

Pro-Taleban militias⁹ are believed to have bases there, and al-Qaida leader Osama bin¹⁰ Laden¹¹ is also thought to be hiding in the border region.

A United Nations report Sunday said most of Afghanistan's increasing number of suicide bombers¹² had received training or support in Pakistan, and many were recruited from Pakistani religious schools.

Thousands have been killed in Afghanistan in the last year, the worst violence since the overthrow¹³ of the Taleban in 2001. Despite the rising death toll¹⁴, Negroponte said during a visit to Afghanistan Tuesday that progress was being made.

"With improved security, prosperity, and social develoment, there are fewer places the Pakistan has sent about 100,000 soldiers to the border area to try to nd we will support thTaleban can look forp safe haven¹⁵. The Afghan government is leading the nation towards a new future, a said Negroponte.at effort,"restore control. Attacks by pro-Taleban and al-Qaida groups escalated¹⁶ after a peace deal between Islamabad and militants¹⁷ in the border region broke down.

On Wednesday pro-Taleban militants in northwest Pakistan attacked a paramilitary post and captured at least 12 soldiers.

Recent attacks have not been limited to the border area. Suicide bombers have killed dozens of people in the last week, including more than 25 in and around the capital.

Extremist groups have a large degree of public support in Pakistan. A survey by Terror-Free Tomorrow, a U.S.-based bipartisan group, showed that more than a third of Pakistanis approved of radical¹⁸ extremist groups. Pakistanis also gave bin Laden a 46 percent approval rating, more than they gave their own president, General Pervez Musharraf.

1 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

2 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。

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

5 contingent   

adj.视条件而定的；n.一组，代表团，分遣队

参考例句：

• The contingent marched in the direction of the Western Hills.队伍朝西山的方向前进。
• Whether or not we arrive on time is contingent on the weather.我们是否按时到达要视天气情况而定。

6 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

7 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

8 whatsoever   

adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么

参考例句：

• There's no reason whatsoever to turn down this suggestion.没有任何理由拒绝这个建议。
• All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,do ye even so to them.你想别人对你怎样，你就怎样对人。

9 militias   

n.民兵组织，民兵( militia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The troops will not attempt to disarm the warring militias. 部队并不打算解除战斗中的民兵武装。 来自辞典例句
• The neighborhood was a battleground for Shiite and Sunni militias. 那里曾是什叶派和逊尼派武装分子的战场。 来自互联网

10 bin   

n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件

参考例句：

• He emptied several bags of rice into a bin.他把几袋米倒进大箱里。
• He threw the empty bottles in the bin.他把空瓶子扔进垃圾箱。

11 laden   

adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的

参考例句：

• He is laden with heavy responsibility.他肩负重任。
• Dragging the fully laden boat across the sand dunes was no mean feat.将满载货物的船拖过沙丘是一件了不起的事。

12 bombers   

n.轰炸机( bomber的名词复数 )；投弹手；安非他明胶囊；大麻叶香烟

参考例句：

• Enemy bombers carried out a blitz on the city. 敌军轰炸机对这座城市进行了突袭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Royal Airforce sill remained dangerously short of bombers. 英国皇家空军仍未脱离极为缺乏轰炸机的危境。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 overthrow   

v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆

参考例句：

• After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后，这个国家处于混乱中。
• The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。

14 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

15 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

16 escalated   

v.（使）逐步升级( escalate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）逐步扩大；（使）更高；（使）更大

参考例句：

• The fighting escalated into a full-scale war. 这场交战逐步扩大为全面战争。
• The demonstration escalated into a pitched battle with the police. 示威逐步升级，演变成了一场同警察的混战。

17 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

18 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。