VOA标准英语2010年-Cautious Optimism Emerges Following Af

Delegates to conference express support for idea of reintegrating Taliban militants¹ into society, but analysts² say plan will be tough sell in region

Sean Maroney | Islamabad 28 January 2010

Afghan President Hamid Karzai makes a speech during the Opening Session of the Afghanistan Conference in London, 28 Jan 2010

Afghan President Hamid Karzai told delegates to a London conference Thursday that he needed regional cooperation for his effort to reintegrate elements of the Taliban back into Afghan society.   Delegates to the Afghan conference expressed support for the idea, but analysts say the plan will be a tough sell in the region. 

The Afghan response regarding this most recent international conference is one of cautious optimism, especially after eight years of heavy fighting.

Law and Political Science Professor Wadir Safi at Kabul University says that while he does not expect the conference to solve the Afghan problem, it could be the catalyst³ to bringing peace. "The London conference can open the gate toward those Taliban who are fighting to come to peace, [and] it would be [a] big achievement," he said.

Reintegration

The countries attending the conference have pledged more than $140 million to a fund designed to reintegrate Taliban militants willing to lay down their weapons.

Abdul Hakeem Mujahid was the envoy⁴ to the United Nations for Afghanistan's Taliban government.  He tells VOA from Kabul that he believes this offer of money will not work.

"Unfortunately, it is not the language of reconciliation⁵," said Mujahid. "It is not the language of reintegration."

But he says President Karzai's plea to Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to help with the peace process is a smart move. "If there is no confidence and transparency with the regional countries and neighboring countries, I think any kind of reconciliation will be [impossible]," said Mujahid.

Key role player

International Relations Associate Professor Ishtiaq Ahmad at the Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad says Pakistan is key to any sort of peace dialogue in Afghanistan.

"All of this historical, ethnic⁶, religious and geographic⁷ sectors⁸, makes Pakistan's role I think the most crucial in solving the Afghan conflict," he said.

He says that not only was Pakistan one of the few countries that officially recognized Afghanistan's previous Taliban government, but it also shares a concern for the Pashtun people who live in both countries.

"Taliban are predominately Pashtun, and Pashtuns reside on both sides of the Durand Line, so naturally Pakistan has some sort of clout⁹ on these Taliban groups," he said.

Ahmad also points out that the Pakistani government has experience in negotiating peace deals with Taliban militants within its own borders. 

"Pakistan [has] cut some deals with some of the Taliban groups, allegedly with those groups which are active in insurgencies in Afghanistan," he said.

Washington has pushed Islamabad to go after the sanctuaries¹⁰ for these Taliban elements hiding out in Pakistan.  But the Pakistani government has resisted, saying that dialogue with militants is the best path for peace in Afghanistan.

 

1 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。

2 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。

3 catalyst   

n.催化剂，造成变化的人或事

参考例句：

• A catalyst is a substance which speeds up a chemical reaction.催化剂是一种能加速化学反应的物质。
• The workers'demand for better conditions was a catalyst for social change.工人们要求改善工作条件促进了社会变革。

4 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

5 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

6 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

7 geographic   

adj.地理学的，地理的

参考例句：

• The city's success owes much to its geographic position. 这座城市的成功很大程度上归功于它的地理位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Environmental problems pay no heed to these geographic lines. 环境问题并不理会这些地理界限。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

8 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

9 clout   

n.用手猛击；权力，影响力

参考例句：

• The queen may have privilege but she has no real political clout.女王有特权，但无真正的政治影响力。
• He gave the little boy a clout on the head.他在那小男孩的头部打了一下。

10 sanctuaries   

n.避难所( sanctuary的名词复数 )；庇护；圣所；庇护所

参考例句：

• The designation of special marine reserves and marine sanctuaries shall be subject to the State Council for approval. 海洋特别保护区、海上自然保护区的确定，须经国务院批准。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• After 1965 he acquiesced when they established sanctuaries on that soil. 1965年以后，他默认了他们在那块土地上建立庇护所。 来自辞典例句