VOA标准英语10月-US Praises Pakistani Efforts to Recruit Tribes Ag

The top U.S. diplomat¹ for South Asia is praising Pakistan's efforts to recruit local militias³ against Taliban and al-Qaida fighters in the country's volatile⁴ tribal⁵ regions. VOA's Barry Newhouse reports from Islamabad.
　

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher, center, talks with Pakistan's top Interior Ministry6 official, Rehman Malik, right, in Islamabad, and U.S. ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson, left. 20 Oct, 2008

Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher said his conversations with Pakistani officials had focused on efforts to convince more people to join the fight against militants⁷ and extremist groups. He said he had been encouraged by the government's increased use of tribal militias known as lashkars.

In Bajaur, where Pakistani security forces have been battling al-Qaida and Taliban militants since August, Army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said nearly 10,000 militia² fighters from 3 local tribes have turned against the militants.

"These tribes, since they know these areas and locations in detail, they have also earmarked the houses of the militants. So wherever they require the support of the military, say by fire or physical engagement, the military responds to that," he said.

Tribes joining the government face fierce reprisals⁸ from militants. Boucher said in the past 6 months 100 to 200 tribal leaders have been killed by militants seeking to undermine the movement.

The U.S. diplomat also discussed efforts to modernize⁹ Pakistan's military and government to fight against terrorism. He said there are ongoing¹⁰ efforts to use American military trainers to teach paramilitary forces operating in the tribal regions.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's military said it is continuing to question 168 foreigners who were arrested near the northwestern town Darra Adam Khel in recent days. The military said it suspects many of the detainees, most of whom are believed to be from Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, are militants.

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 militia   

n.民兵，民兵组织

参考例句：

• First came the PLA men,then the people's militia.人民解放军走在前面，其次是民兵。
• There's a building guarded by the local militia at the corner of the street.街道拐角处有一幢由当地民兵团守卫的大楼。

3 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

4 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。

5 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。

6 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

7 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。

8 reprisals   

n.报复（行为）( reprisal的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They did not want to give evidence for fear of reprisals. 他们因为害怕报复而不想作证。
• They took bloody reprisals against the leaders. 他们对领导进行了血腥的报复。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 modernize   

vt.使现代化，使适应现代的需要

参考例句：

• It was their manifest failure to modernize the country's industries.他们使国家进行工业现代化，明显失败了。
• There is a pressing need to modernise our electoral system.我们的选举制度迫切需要现代化。

10 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。