VOA标准英语2011--Sectarian Terror Attack Fuels Afghan-Pakistan Tension

Sectarian Terror Attack Fuels Afghan-Pakistan Tension

 

This week's suicide bomb attack that killed dozens of Shi'ite Muslims at a Kabul shrine¹ has significantly heightened tensions between Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan. The Afghan president has vowed² to confront Pakistan's government over the issue. Islamabad, for its part, is seeking to soothe³ riled emotions.

Kabul kept the pressure on Pakistan Thursday, following an apparent claim of responsibility by a Pakistan-based group for Tuesday's suicide bombing in the Afghan capital, which killed at least 55 Shi'ite worshippers on their holiest day of the year.

A spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai was quoted Thursday as saying it is up to Pakistan to take action and find out how the Sunni extremist group Lashkar-i-Jhangvi managed contact the media in order to claim responsibility for the attack.

In Islamabad, Pakistan Foreign Ministry⁴ Spokesman Abdul Basit offered his country's condolences to the families of those killed and wounded.

"We obviously condemn⁵ in the strongest possible terms the reprehensible⁶ crime which was committed," said Basit. "We would encourage Kabul to share evidence, if any, with us through official channels. Because Pakistan and the people of Pakistan are committed to fight against terrorism."

Afghan President Hamid Karzai talks with a victim wounded in a recent suicide bomb attack during an Ashura mourning procession, Kabul, Afghanistan, December 7, 2011.

Karzai's office, however, insists Pakistan needs to start taking action without waiting for evidence from Afghanistan.

The Kabul shrine attack was the deadliest of three bombings that took place in Afghanistan this week within a space of 48 hours.

The claim of responsibility by the outlawed⁷ Pakistani group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi adds to the growing list of irritants between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Kabul also suspects Pakistan was involved in an assault on the U.S. embassy in Kabul in September and in the assassination⁸ of chief Afghan peace negotiator Burhanuddin Rabbani just weeks later.

Pakistan boycotted¹⁰ this week's Bonn conference on Afghanistan's peace process to protest last month's deadly NATO airstrike that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. Spokesman Basit dismissed suggestions the decision to boycott⁹ the conference constituted a retreat from peace efforts in Afghanistan.

"We would like to have a relationship that is free from recrimination and blame game... and we strongly believe in Islamabad that our two countries' destinies are intertwined," added Basit.

Experts fear this week's apparent targeted killing¹¹ of Shi'ites may be the first salvo in a more sectarian dimension to the insurgency¹² in Afghanistan, a development that would make the achievement of long-term stability far more challenging.

1 shrine   

n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣

参考例句：

• The shrine was an object of pilgrimage.这处圣地是人们朝圣的目的地。
• They bowed down before the shrine.他们在神龛前鞠躬示敬。

2 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

3 soothe   

v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承

参考例句：

• I've managed to soothe him down a bit.我想方设法使他平静了一点。
• This medicine should soothe your sore throat.这种药会减轻你的喉痛。

4 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。

5 condemn   

vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑

参考例句：

• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。
• We mustn't condemn him on mere suppositions.我们不可全凭臆测来指责他。

6 reprehensible   

adj.该受责备的

参考例句：

• Lying is not seen as being morally reprehensible in any strong way.人们并不把撒谎当作一件应该大加谴责的事儿。
• It was reprehensible of him to be so disloyal.他如此不忠，应受谴责。

7 outlawed   

宣布…为不合法（outlaw的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Most states have outlawed the use of marijuana. 大多数州都宣布使用大麻为非法行为。
• I hope the sale of tobacco will be outlawed someday. 我希望有朝一日烟草制品会禁止销售。

8 assassination   

n.暗杀；暗杀事件

参考例句：

• The assassination of the president brought matters to a head.总统遭暗杀使事态到了严重关头。
• Lincoln's assassination in 1865 shocked the whole nation.1865年，林肯遇刺事件震惊全美国。

9 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。

10 boycotted   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Athletes from several countries boycotted the Olympic Games. 有好几国的运动员抵制奥林匹克运动会。
• The opposition party earlier boycotted the Diet agenda, demanding Miyaji's resignation. 反对党曾杯葛国会议程，要宫路下台。

11 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

12 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