U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he is deeply concerned about civilian casualties in Afghanistan. Mr. Ban called for closer cooperation between civilian and military leaders.
联合国秘书长潘基文说，他对阿富汗平民的伤亡深感关切。潘基文呼吁平民和军队领导人更加紧密地合作。
During Ban Ki-moon's brief, unannounced visit to Kabul, he called 2009 an important year for addressing Afghanistan's security challenges and establishing full democracy.
潘基文到喀布尔进行了短暂的、事先未经宣告的访问，他称2009年是处理阿富汗的安全挑战并建立完善民主制度的重要的一年。
The secretary-general said he plans to maintain a strong partnership with the Afghan government this year and hopes to better coordinate infrastructure and energy development with international donors.
这位联合国秘书长表示，他计划今年要和阿富汗政府保持牢固的伙伴关系，并希望更好地和国际捐助国在基础设施和能源开发方面进一步协作。
Last year, Taliban fighters extended their reach from southern and eastern areas of the country to the outskirts of Kabul, killing record numbers of troops and further imperiling the already weak Afghan government.
去年，塔利班武装人员把他们的活动范围从东南部地区延伸到喀布尔外围，他们所杀害的军人数目创下了最高纪录，使原本薄弱的阿富汗政府更岌岌可危。
Foreign troops have responded with airstrikes and raids in more remote areas, but the tactics have also led to hundreds of civilian deaths.
外国部队已经以对偏远地区的空袭和突袭作为回应，但是这种战术也导致数以百计的平民丧生。
Mr. Ban called for closer coordination between civilian and military officials.
潘基文呼吁平民和部队官员更紧密地合作。
"I fully share the concerns and frustrations President Karzai has endured in the course of many tragic incidents where civilian people have been killed in the course of the military operations fighting terrorism," he said.
“我完全理解卡尔扎伊总统的关切和忧虑，他经历了很多在打击恐怖主义的军事行动中平民丧生的悲惨事件。”
Afghan political leaders on all levels regularly complain that the civilian casualties by foreign troops are undermining public support for the Afghan government.
阿富汗各级政治领导人一直在抱怨，平民遭到外国部队伤害的事件，会破坏公众对阿富汗政府的支持。
Should foreign military get permission before launching air strikes?
President Hamid Karzai has suggested requiring foreign militaries to first get permission from Afghan officials before carrying out air strikes and house raids. During Wednesday's news conference with the U.N. secretary-general, Mr. Karzai again called for an end to civilian casualties.
卡尔扎伊总统建议外国部队在进行空袭和搜捕行动前，先取得阿富汗政府的同意。卡尔扎伊星期三在和联合国秘书长共同举行的记者会上，再次呼吁结束平民的伤亡事件。
Mr. Karzai says the issue of civilian casualties has caused tensions between Afghanistan and the United States, but the overall relationship remains strong. He says military leaders should negotiate on his suggestions for new rules of engagement.
卡尔扎伊说，平民伤亡问题已经导致阿富汗和美国关系紧张，但是总体来说，双方关系仍然密切。他说军事领导人应该就他的建议进行协商，商定战斗行动的新规则。
Ban Ki-moon also meets with Pakistani leaders in Islamabad, where he is expected to announce the creation of a formal U.N. investigation into the assassination of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
A Pakistani investigation last year concluded Taliban militants were most likely responsible for her death in December 2007. But Bhutto's political party, which now leads Pakistan's government, suggested that her political opponents may have played a role in the plot. Officials appealed for a formal U.N. inquiry last year. |