VOA标准英语2009年-US Complains of Pakistani Visa Holdups

The State Department on Thursday expressed serious concern about delays by the Pakistani government in the issuance of visas for officials and contractors¹ assigned to U.S. diplomatic posts in Pakistan.

David Gollust | State Department 17 December 2009

The State Department on Thursday expressed serious concern about delays by the Pakistani government in the issuance of visas for officials and contractors assigned to U.S. diplomatic posts in Pakistan.  U.S. officials say that if the pattern continues, it could impede² expanded aid and military cooperation programs with Pakistan. 

The State Department has taken the unusual step of going public with concerns about what is described here as large-scale Pakistani foot-dragging in the issuance of visas for U.S. officials and contractors seeking to enter Pakistan to implement³ U.S. aid programs.

At a news briefing, State Department Deputy Spokesman Robert Wood said the delays affect hundreds of U.S. diplomats⁵ and others newly assigned to Pakistan, and those already there seeking to extend their stays.

Wood said the United States has raised the issue at senior levels with the Pakistani government and is concerned about the impact the delays could have on U.S. military and civilian⁶ aid programs for Pakistan, which are being sharply increased to help that country cope with extremist threats and economic problems.

"We are working with our Pakistani counterparts to try to resolve these issues, and we are working very hard," he said. "In terms of the kind of impact it may have, I would suspect that if this continues, it will indeed have an impact on our ability to do the work that we want to do to help the Pakistan people in terms of fighting terrorism, in terms of economic development, a whole range of issues.  So we're trying to work these issues with the government of Pakistan."

The issue surfaced in a New York Times story on Thursday from Islamabad that quoted U.S. officials there as blaming elements of the Pakistani military and intelligence services for a pattern of harassment⁷ against embassy personnel.

The newspaper said U.S. officials believe the visa delays and other actions, such as frequent searches of embassy vehicles, reflect resentment⁸ in some quarters for the expansion of the U.S. presence in Pakistan to administer growing aid programs, and resentment over U.S. demands that Pakistan step up action against extremists.

The New York Times quoted Pakistani officials as complaining about "arrogant⁹" behavior by U.S. personnel.

A senior U.S. official who spoke⁴ to reporters here said he would not take issue with the idea that Pakistani security authorities, as opposed to civilian officials, are behind the visa delays.

He said the problem, which extends back several months, has been raised with Pakistani officials "at very senior levels" and that Pakistani explanations have been unsatisfactory.

The senior official acknowledged that the public standing¹⁰ of the United States and other Western countries in Pakistan "is not all that high."  But he said Pakistani officials should not act on the basis of opinion polls and should understand that the United States, with its increased aid commitments, is trying to help bring stability to the country.

He also noted¹¹ that the U.S. Congress, which approved a five-year, $7.5 billion civilian aid program for Pakistan in October, pays close attention to such issues. 
 

1 contractors   

n.（建筑、监造中的）承包人( contractor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• We got estimates from three different contractors before accepting the lowest. 我们得到3个承包商的报价后，接受了最低的报价。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Contractors winning construction jobs had to kick back 2 per cent of the contract price to the mafia. 赢得建筑工作的承包商得抽出合同价格的百分之二的回扣给黑手党。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 impede   

v.妨碍，阻碍，阻止

参考例句：

• One shouldn't impede other's progress.一个人不应该妨碍他人进步。
• The muddy roads impede our journey.我们的旅游被泥泞的道路阻挠了。

3 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 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》

6 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

7 harassment   

n.骚扰，扰乱，烦恼，烦乱

参考例句：

• She often got telephone harassment at night these days.这些天她经常在夜晚受到电话骚扰。
• The company prohibits any form of harassment.公司禁止任何形式的骚扰行为。

8 resentment   

n.怨愤，忿恨

参考例句：

• All her feelings of resentment just came pouring out.她一股脑儿倾吐出所有的怨恨。
• She cherished a deep resentment under the rose towards her employer.她暗中对她的雇主怀恨在心。

9 arrogant   

adj.傲慢的，自大的

参考例句：

• You've got to get rid of your arrogant ways.你这骄傲劲儿得好好改改。
• People are waking up that he is arrogant.人们开始认识到他很傲慢。

10 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

11 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。