voa标准英语2008-Indian PM Wants 'Normalized' Relations with Paki

India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says he wants "normalized" relations with Pakistan, but that Islamabad must stop allowing its territory to be used for terrorist activities against India. Mr. Singh made the statement during an election rally in Indian Kashmir, the Muslim-majority region that has been a focus of tensions with Islamabad.
　

India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

Prime Minister Singh, who flew to Kashmir early Sunday after meeting British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in New Delhi, said relations with Pakistan cannot be improved unless Pakistan stops allowing its territory to be used for terrorist activities against India.

Mr. Singh says India's desire for normalized relations should not be taken as weakness.

Mr. Singh also commented on India's dispute with Pakistan over the divided region of Kashmir. He said that borders cannot be redrawn in Kashmir, but only softened¹.

Kashmiri separatists, have called for a boycott² of the elections, saying they will strengthen India's hold on the Muslim-majority region, and launched a strike in the region Sunday to protest the prime minister's visit.

Anti India sentiment runs deep in Kashmir where an insurgency³ broke out in 1989.

A staggered seven phase election process is under way in Indian-administered Kashmir. An unprecedented⁴ number of people have voted in the first five phases, surprising Kashmir analysts⁵.

1 softened   

（使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰

参考例句：

• His smile softened slightly. 他的微笑稍柔和了些。
• The ice cream softened and began to melt. 冰淇淋开始变软并开始融化。

2 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

3 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

4 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

5 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。