VOA标准英语2009-Indian Official Calls Terror Suspect's Relea

The leader of a banned Muslim charity India accuses of masterminding last year's Mumbai terror attack has been released by a Pakistani court. The decision is seen as a setback¹ for the investigation² into the terror attack, as well as relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors and long-time rivals.

India is expressing disappointment after the Lahore High Court set free the founder³ of Jamaat-ud-Dawa, regarded as a front for the terrorist organization Lashkhar-e-Taiba.
　
Hafiz Muhammad Saeed (2005 file photo)

The Pakistani court says the government produced insufficient⁴ evidence to continue holding Hafiz Muhammad Saeed.

'Regrettable' release

The Indian External Affairs Ministry⁵ calls Saeed's release "regrettable." Spokesman Vishnu Prakash - reading a terse⁶ statement - terms the action counter to Pakistan's international obligations to fight terrorism.

"Hafiz Saeed, the Laskhar-e-Taiba and the Jamaat-ud-Dawa have a long and well-established background of planning and launching terrorist acts against India," he said.

Not a setback

However, Indian Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram says the suspect's release is not a setback for the criminal investigation of the assault on Mumbai, which left nearly 170 people dead.

"It's a commentary on the commitment of Pakistan to investigate the perpetrators of the crime," he said. "We're unhappy that Pakistan does not show the degree of seriousness and commitment that it should to bring to justice the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attack."

India claims the 10 terrorists who carried out last November's assault on luxury hotels, a rail station, a Jewish center and a popular café all came from Pakistan.

Not cooperative enough

Pakistani officials have said India is not being sufficiently⁷ cooperative in giving Islamabad requested information for the investigation. Indian officials say they will be carefully watching to see if Pakistan appeals the Lahore High Court decision.

While the court was ordering the release, Pakistan's president was addressing a meeting in Islamabad.

Blaming India

Yousuf Raza Gilani blames India for putting "a pause" on the diplomatic dialog following last November's terror attack on Mumbai.

"We hope that the peace process would resume soon and become result oriented…in addressing all outstanding issues, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir," Gilani said.

Mr. Gilani reiterated⁸ the long-standing Pakistani stance that resolving the Kashmir territorial⁹ dispute "holds the key to durable¹⁰ peace in the region."

That prompted consternation¹¹ across the border, with Indian commentators¹² immediately taking to the airwaves accusing the Pakistani leader of diverting the focus from the urgent threat terrorism is posing to both countries.

1 setback   

n.退步，挫折，挫败

参考例句：

• Since that time there has never been any setback in his career.从那时起他在事业上一直没有遇到周折。
• She views every minor setback as a disaster.她把每个较小的挫折都看成重大灾难。

2 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

3 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

4 insufficient   

adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的

参考例句：

• There was insufficient evidence to convict him.没有足够证据给他定罪。
• In their day scientific knowledge was insufficient to settle the matter.在他们的时代，科学知识还不能足以解决这些问题。

5 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。

6 terse   

adj.(说话，文笔)精炼的，简明的

参考例句：

• Her reply about the matter was terse.她对此事的答复简明扼要。
• The president issued a terse statement denying the charges.总统发表了一份简短的声明，否认那些指控。

7 sufficiently   

adv.足够地，充分地

参考例句：

• It turned out he had not insured the house sufficiently.原来他没有给房屋投足保险。
• The new policy was sufficiently elastic to accommodate both views.新政策充分灵活地适用两种观点。

8 reiterated   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• "Well, I want to know about it,'she reiterated. “嗯，我一定要知道你的休假日期，"她重复说。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some twenty-two years later President Polk reiterated and elaborated upon these principles. 大约二十二年之后，波尔克总统重申这些原则并且刻意阐释一番。

9 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

10 durable   

adj.持久的，耐久的

参考例句：

• This raincoat is made of very durable material.这件雨衣是用非常耐用的料子做的。
• They frequently require more major durable purchases.他们经常需要购买耐用消费品。

11 consternation   

n.大为吃惊，惊骇

参考例句：

• He was filled with consternation to hear that his friend was so ill.他听说朋友病得那么厉害，感到非常震惊。
• Sam stared at him in consternation.萨姆惊恐不安地注视着他。

12 commentators   

n.评论员( commentator的名词复数 )；时事评论员；注释者；实况广播员

参考例句：

• Sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam. 体育解说员翻来覆去说着同样的词语，真叫人腻烦。
• Television sports commentators repeat the same phrases ad nauseam. 电视体育解说员说来说去就是那么几句话，令人厌烦。 来自《简明英汉词典》