U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says American forces need to do more to prevent killing civilians during military strikes in Afghanistan. While the secretary was in Kabul, U.S. military chief Admiral Mike Mullen visited Islamabad for talks with officials who have protested U.S. attacks on targets inside Pakistan.
美国国防部长盖茨说，美国军队需要做得更多，以防止在阿富汗的军事打击行动中杀害平民。就在盖茨在喀布尔时，美军将领马伦上将到访伊斯兰堡，与抗议过美国袭击巴基斯坦境内目标的官员举行会晤。
Defense Secretary Robert Gates addressed the ongoing controversy in Afghanistan over civilian deaths by offering his apologies and vowing to do more to prevent them in the future.
国防部长盖茨发表讲话谈到目前在阿富汗有关平民死亡出现的争议。盖茨提出道歉，并且表示一定要做得更多以便在未来预防平民死亡。
"I offer all Afghans my sincere condolences and personal regrets for the recent loss of innocent life as a result of coalition air strikes," Gates said. "While no military has ever done more to prevent civilian casualties, it is clear that we have to work even harder."
盖茨说，“我向所有阿富汗人表达我诚挚的慰问和我个人对最近联军空袭造成无辜生命被剥夺的歉意。虽然美军没有做得更多来防止平民伤亡，但是很明显我们要更努力去做的。”
Top Afghan officials, including President Hamid Karzai have sharply criticized an increase in civilian deaths in recent weeks, in particular last months airstrike in Herat that Afghan and U.N. officials say killed more than 90 civilians - mostly women and children. The U.S. military says its investigation showed several civilians were among about 35 militants killed, but has promised to reopen an investigation.
包括阿富汗总统卡尔扎伊在内的阿富汗高级官员严厉批评最近几个星期平民死亡人数上升，特别是上个月在赫拉特省的空袭。阿富汗和联合国官员说，那次空袭造成90多名平民丧生，其中多数为妇女和儿童。美国军方说，军方的调查显示35名被打死的激进分子中有几名平民，但是军方说一定要重新调查。
Secretary Gates blamed this year's spike in violence on Taliban fighters adopting terrorist-style attacks on soft targets and more attacks by a variety of militant and criminal gangs all working to undermine the government.
盖茨国防部长将今年暴力活动上升归咎于对非军事目标采取恐怖分子袭击方式的塔利班武装分子以及所有致力于破坏政府的各种激进分子和犯罪分子集团实施的更多袭击。
He says Taliban militants have also used sanctuaries in Pakistan to launch attacks. But he said the Pakistani military has recently begun to crack down on fighters in the country's autonomous tribal agencies.
盖茨说，塔利班分子还利用在巴基斯坦的庇护点发动攻击。但是他说，巴基斯坦军方最近开始打击在巴基斯坦自治部落机构里的武装分子。
"I think what we have seen and been pleased about is in recent weeks, the Pakistani army once again putting pressure in this area and it is my hope that we can work closely with the Pakistanis to prevent this from being a safe haven that threatens both Afghanistan and a democratic Pakistan," Gates.
盖茨说，“我认为，我们最近几个星期看到和感到高兴的是，巴基斯坦军队再次在这一地区施加压力，我希望我们能够与巴基斯坦人紧密合作，防止这个地区成为威胁阿富汗和民主巴基斯坦的安全庇护所。”
The U.S. military chief, Admiral Mike Mullen, met with Pakistan's army chief and the prime minister in Islamabad for talks, including the security situation in the tribal areas.
美军将领马伦上将在伊斯兰堡和巴基斯坦陆军司令和巴基斯坦总理在伊斯兰堡举行会谈，会谈内容包括在部落地区的安全局势。
Top military and civilian officials in Pakistan have strongly protested a U.S. ground raid last month against a suspected militant target on Pakistani territory near the Afghan border. The raid appeared to be the first of its kind, and drew rebukes from civilian and military officials vowing to defend Pakistan's sovereignty at all costs.
巴基斯坦军方和民事高级官员强烈抗议上个月美国对巴基斯坦靠近阿富汗边界领域里的一个可疑的激进分子目标发动地面突袭。这次突袭好像是类似袭击中的第一次，突袭引起民事和军事官员的强烈批评。他们发誓一定要不惜一切代价保卫巴基斯坦的主权。
The U.S. embassy released a statement saying Admiral Mullen had an extremely frank, positive and constructive meeting with General Ashfaq Kayani and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. The statement said Mullen also vowed to respect Pakistan's sovereignty.
美国大使馆发布一份声明说，马伦上将和卡亚尼将军以及吉拉尼总理进行了一次极为坦诚、积极和建设性的会谈。声明说，穆伦还表示一定要尊重巴基斯坦的主权。 |