2007年VOA标准英语-Pakistan, Afghanistan to Hold Landmark Assembly

By Benjamin Sand
Islamabad, Pakistan
03 August 2007
 

Pakistani and Afghan leaders will meet August 9-12 to discuss cross-border security issues in a landmark¹ assembly or grand jirga.  The four-day talks come as extremists continue to inflict² heavy casualties in both countries. From Islamabad VOA, correspondent Benjamin Sand reports.

Pakistani, Afghan and US leaders

The talks were organized last year during a rare meeting between the Afghan and Pakistani presidents in Washington.

Relations between the South Asian neighbors are at a low. Both sides blame the other for a surge in violence that has affected³ the entire region.

Afghanistan's six-year Taleban insurgency⁴ is bloodier⁵ than ever. More than 6,000 people have been killed in the past 18 months.

Afghan officials say most of the militants⁶ are based in hidden camps inside Pakistan.

But Pakistani officials insist it is a two way street. They say Afghanistan's insecurity is destabilizing both sides of the border.

In July, pro-Taleban militants battled government forces in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad. More than 100 people died in the eight-day stand-off.

Brigadier Javed Iqbal Cheem

Pakistani authorities say the upcoming jirga should produce a unified⁷ response to the violence. "We are both victims of terrorism," said Pakistan Army Brigadier Javed Iqbal Cheema. "And I think the stability of Afghanistan is of upmost importance to the stability of Pakistan. Because  no other country gets affected by the stability of Afghanistan then Pakistan. If Afghanistan sneezes, Pakistan gets a cold."

U.S. officials strongly back the talks. Both countries are critical allies in the U.S.-led war against terrorism.

But security experts in Afghanistan and Pakistan say the jirga will likely not produce major breakthroughs. Retired⁸ Pakistani General Talat Masood  is among those who expect modest progress. "In a best-case scenario⁹ we could think that they are showing a renewed commitment," he said. "They are showing the urgency and the great threat that this region is facing."

More than 700 people are expected to attend the jirga in the Afghan capital, Kabul. Participants will include political leaders from both countries as well as tribal¹⁰ elders and prominent religious figures.

In the coming months, a similar jirga is to be held in Pakistan.

1 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

2 inflict   

vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担

参考例句：

• Don't inflict your ideas on me.不要把你的想法强加于我。
• Don't inflict damage on any person.不要伤害任何人。

3 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

4 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

5 bloodier   

adj.血污的( bloody的比较级 )；流血的；屠杀的；残忍的

参考例句：

6 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。

7 unified   

(unify 的过去式和过去分词)； 统一的； 统一标准的； 一元化的

参考例句：

• The teacher unified the answer of her pupil with hers. 老师核对了学生的答案。
• The First Emperor of Qin unified China in 221 B.C. 秦始皇于公元前221年统一中国。

8 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

9 scenario   

n.剧本，脚本；概要

参考例句：

• But the birth scenario is not completely accurate.然而分娩脚本并非完全准确的。
• This is a totally different scenario.这是完全不同的剧本。

10 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。