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　　NATO defense¹ ministers say progress is being made in Afghanistan despite tough resistance from the Taliban insurgency².
北约成员国的国防部长们说，阿富汗行动正在取得进展，尽管北约部队遇到塔利班叛乱分子的顽固抵抗。
In a statement as they wrapped up a two-day meeting in Brussels, NATO defense ministers described military operations in Afghanistan as making measured progress. But they acknowledged significant challenges remain. That sentiment was shared by NATO's Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen in his remarks to the ministers.
北约各国的国防部长们结束了在布鲁塞尔举行的两天会议。他们在会议结束时发表声明说，阿富汗的军事行动正在取得适度进展，但是他们承认依然存在重大挑战。北约秘书长拉斯穆森在他对部长们的讲话中也表达了这种情绪。
"We expect, the Afghan people expect and our populations expect, to see progress. We're only halfway³ through this year, but progress is visible - political and military progress," Rasmussen said.
拉斯穆森说：“我们期待，阿富汗人民期待，北约国家的人民也都期待看到进展。我们今年的行动才只开展了半年，但已经可以看到政治和军事方面的成果。”
NATO ministers point specifically to two Afghan regions – Central Helmand and Kandahar – where their troops have focused on routing the Taliban insurgency. Rasmussen also pointed⁴ to political markers, including a recent peace jirga, or meeting, in Afghanistan gathering⁵ key players, and upcoming parliamentary elections.
各国的国防部长们特别提到阿富汗中部的赫尔曼德省和坎大哈省两个地区，北约部队在那里的主要任务是清剿塔利班叛乱分子。拉斯穆森还指出了政治方面的成果，包括近期召开的汇集了阿富汗重要人士的和平支尔格会议，以及即将举行的议会选举。
Still, the mission has faced significant setbacks, with more than two-dozen NATO troops killed this week alone. On Thursday, NATO's force commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, said a key operation in Kandahar would go slower than originally planned.
尽管如此，在当地的行动也遭遇了重大挫折。仅这个星期就有几十名北约军人阵亡。北约部队指挥官麦克里斯特尔将军星期四说，在坎大哈的一次关键行动的进展将比原计划缓慢。
Public and political frustration⁶ is also growing after nine years of fighting the Taliban. Still, Rasmussen told a press conference that NATO would likely begin transferring security operations to Afghan forces as planned.
在与塔利班的斗争进行了九年之后，当地民间和政界的失望情绪也在不断增加。不过，拉斯穆森在一次新闻发布会上说，北约可能会按计划开始将安全工作移交给阿富汗部队。
"I still think it is still a realistic goal that the transition process can start by the end of this year. I have continuously stressed that or course it is a condition-based process and not a calendar-driven process," he adds.
拉斯穆森说：“我仍然认为在今年年底前能够开始移交程序是一个现实的目标。我一直不断强调，这个过程当然是要根据情况而定，而不是根据日程表来决定。”
Rasmussen has joined Washington in urging NATO allies to send more trainers to Afghanistan to strengthen Afghan police and military forces.
北约秘书长拉斯穆森和美国一道，敦促北约盟国向阿富汗派遣更多的培训人员，以加强阿富汗警方和军队的力量。