美国国家公共电台 NPR--U.S. stands by as a partner to help as Khan's arrest adds to Pakistan's turmoil

U.S. stands by as a partner to help as Khan's arrest adds to Pakistan's turmoil¹

Transcript²

NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Derek Chollet, counselor³ to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, about multiple court cases and corruption⁴ charges filed against Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Now, the turmoil in Pakistan strikes one of the world's most populous⁵ countries, a nuclear-armed nation that is also a strategic partner of the United States. So we've been talking about it with diplomats⁶ at the U.S. State Department. Derek Chollet is the counselor to Secretary of State Antony Blinken. He is a regular visitor to Pakistan. And as we spoke⁷ last week, former Prime Minister Imran Khan was not yet in custody⁸, but Chollet knew of the court cases against him as the coalition⁹ government moves toward elections this fall.

What attitude, if any, is the United States taking toward that process?

DEREK CHOLLET: We obviously want to see the elections happen on time. We want them to be free and fair. We do not take a position on who will lead Pakistan. Of course, we want to ensure that we have a stable relationship. And our message to Pakistan during this period of tremendous turmoil and challenge that they're facing on so many different fronts is we want to be there as a partner.

INSKEEP: I want to follow up on something you said. There is talk in Pakistan of delaying these elections past the fall when, according to law, it appears they should take place.

CHOLLET: Right. Right.

INSKEEP: The United States is saying, you're telling me, hold the elections on time.

CHOLLET: We believe the elections should be held, and they need to be free and fair.

INSKEEP: Even if the result is Imran Khan returns to power.

CHOLLET: Again, we don't pass judgment¹⁰ on who's going to lead Pakistan. We'll look forward to working with whoever's in power there.

INSKEEP: Imran Khan, as you know very well, has espoused¹¹ theories and ideas that the United States pushed him out of power and perhaps would have some influence in keeping him out of power or allowing him back in. What influence has the United States exercised, if any?

CHOLLET: The statements about any U.S. role in Pakistan's politics are completely false. They're preposterous¹². They're frankly¹³ a distraction¹⁴ from the important work that we have to do to help Pakistan economically and help it deal with its tremendous economic challenges, to help it on security, but then also to help us realize a tremendous potential we believe we have in this relationship. The United States remains¹⁵ Pakistan's largest trading partner. There are many Pakistani American who are vibrant¹⁶ parts of the United States but also do important work back in Pakistan. Many U.S. companies employ thousands and thousands of Pakistanis. We see that there is potential in the relationship, despite the tremendous challenges we have to work on together.

INSKEEP: Because of those trading relationships and because of the security relationship between the United States and Pakistan, isn't it true, though, that the U.S. does have a lot of influence there, even if you're not giving orders to anybody?

CHOLLET: Look, we certainly have some influence, and we try to use that influence as good partners to encourage the Pakistani government to make the right decisions and to give them support to make those decisions. But of course, we don't have infinite amount of influence and control events in Pakistan and don't seek to control events in Pakistan.

INSKEEP: Do you talk a lot about issues of democracy with the military, which has tremendous influence there?

CHOLLET: Absolutely we do. And in the several trips I've made to Pakistan in the last nine months, I've had an opportunity to see the chief of staff of the military. And we've talked about the importance of the military staying out of politics and the importance of the strength of democracy inside Pakistan.

INSKEEP: Is this a dangerous moment for that country?

CHOLLET: People that I've greatly respect who followed Pakistan for many years say that it is as perilous¹⁷ as they have seen it. Given the profound economic challenges they're facing, given the natural disasters that they have suffered from, given the rising threat of terrorism that seems to be returning and the ongoing¹⁸ political turmoil, this is a critical moment for Pakistan. It's why the United States is working very hard with our colleagues inside Pakistan, as well as other partners, to do what we can to help Pakistan get through this very challenging moment.

INSKEEP: Counselor, thanks so much.

CHOLLET: Thanks. Great being here.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

INSKEEP: Derek Chollet, top adviser¹⁹ to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking late last week. A State Department spokesperson told NPR last evening the U.S. is aware of Imran Khan's arrest. The department is urging all protesters to express their grievances²⁰ peacefully and for authorities to respond with restraint.

1 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 counselor   

n.顾问，法律顾问

参考例句：

• The counselor gave us some disinterested advice.顾问给了我们一些无私的忠告。
• Chinese commercial counselor's office in foreign countries.中国驻国外商务参赞处。

4 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

5 populous   

adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的

参考例句：

• London is the most populous area of Britain.伦敦是英国人口最稠密的地区。
• China is the most populous developing country in the world.中国是世界上人口最多的发展中国家。

6 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》

7 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。

8 custody   

n.监护，照看，羁押，拘留

参考例句：

• He spent a week in custody on remand awaiting sentence.等候判决期间他被还押候审一个星期。
• He was taken into custody immediately after the robbery.抢劫案发生后，他立即被押了起来。

9 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

10 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

11 espoused   

v.（决定）支持，拥护（目标、主张等）( espouse的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• They espoused the notion of equal opportunity for all in education. 他们赞同在教育方面人人机会均等的观念。
• The ideas she espoused were incomprehensible to me. 她所支持的意见令我难以理解。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 preposterous   

adj.荒谬的，可笑的

参考例句：

• The whole idea was preposterous.整个想法都荒唐透顶。
• It would be preposterous to shovel coal with a teaspoon.用茶匙铲煤是荒谬的。

13 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

14 distraction   

n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐

参考例句：

• Total concentration is required with no distractions.要全神贯注，不能有丝毫分神。
• Their national distraction is going to the disco.他们的全民消遣就是去蹦迪。

15 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

16 vibrant   

adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的

参考例句：

• He always uses vibrant colours in his paintings. 他在画中总是使用鲜明的色彩。
• She gave a vibrant performance in the leading role in the school play.她在学校表演中生气盎然地扮演了主角。

17 perilous   

adj.危险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• The journey through the jungle was perilous.穿过丛林的旅行充满了危险。
• We have been carried in safety through a perilous crisis.历经一连串危机，我们如今已安然无恙。

18 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

19 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

20 grievances   

n.委屈( grievance的名词复数 )；苦衷；不满；牢骚

参考例句：

• The trade union leader spoke about the grievances of the workers. 工会领袖述说工人们的苦情。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• He gave air to his grievances. 他申诉了他的冤情。 来自《简明英汉词典》