VOA标准英语2010-Indian, Afghan Leaders Discuss Security a

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, left, and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh shake hands after addressing the press in New Delhi, 26 April 2010

Anxious Himalayan Nation Prepares for Unprecedented¹ Hosting of Dignitaries
India has pledged to continue its involvement in the reconstruction² of Afghanistan during a visit by Afghan leader Hamid Karzai to New Delhi. The leaders of the two countries also discussed efforts to tackle terrorism, which threatens stability in the South Asian region.

After holding talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in New Delhi, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the Afghan president had promised all possible measures for the security of Indians working in Afghanistan.

New Delhi has been concerned about several terror attacks that have targeted Indians in Afghanistan.  In February, a militant³ attack on a Kabul guest house killed six Indians.

But the Indian leader indicated New Delhi will not waver in its commitment to the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

"I conveyed to President Karzai that the perpetrators of such attacks will not succeed in undermining India's commitment to assist the Afghan people," Mr. Singh said.

Hundreds of Indians are working in development projects in Afghanistan, including construction of highways, hospitals, dams and schools.

The Afghan president discussed efforts to reach out to the Taliban for a negotiated settlement of the nine-year conflict in the country.

Mr. Karzai referred to a peace conference or "peace jirga", in which tribal⁴ and ethnic⁵ leaders will meet with the government next month in Afghanistan.  

"We discussed the upcoming Afghanistan 'peace jirga,' which will comprise all the people of Afghanistan from all walks of life to advise the Afghan government on how to move forward toward reintegration and reconciling of those elements of the Taliban and others who have accepted the Afghan constitution, who are not part of al-Qaida, who will not be part of any terrorist network," he said.

Mr. Karzai met Indian leaders while on his way to Bhutan, where a two-day summit of leaders of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation starts Wednesday.

 

1 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。

2 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。

3 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。

4 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。

5 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。