British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Wednesday that his country is determined to carry on with its combat mission in Afghanistan despite a rise in casualties and skepticism in domestic opinion polls. Miliband discussed the Afghan situation and related issues with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton here in Washington.
英国外相米利班德星期三说，尽管英军伤亡数字升高，英国国内民调也持怀疑态度，英国政府决心要继续在阿富汗的战斗任务。米利班德在华盛顿与美国国务卿就阿富汗情势以及相关议题展开讨论。
Miliband says the Afghan conflict is in a "tough phase," but that Britain intends to work through the difficulties, side-by-side with the United States as Afghanistan approaches historic elections next month.
米利班德说，阿富汗冲突目前进入“困难阶段”，但是英国政府将与美国并肩合作，度过难关。与此同时，阿富汗将在下个月举行一场历史性的大选。
The British top diplomat met Secretary Clinton amid a backdrop of high British casualties in the current offensive against Taliban forces in Afghanistan and public opinion polls indicating that a majority of Britons would like to see their troops brought home.
米利班德与克林顿国务卿的会谈也正值在阿富汗对抗塔利班的英军死亡人数大幅上升，而英国公众民调显示，绝大多数的英国民众希望部队回家。
But Miliband said his country intends to stay the course on a mission that is in its national interest, given Afghanistan's past links to terrorism.
但是米利班德说，英国军队将继续留在阿富汗，因为从阿富汗过去与恐怖份子的关联来看，持续战斗任务符合英国的国家利益。
"I think that the British people understand the vital nature of the mission that's taking place in Afghanistan," said David Miliband. "They know that Afghanistan was the incubator for global terrorism that struck with such deadly effect in September 2001. I think the British people will stay with this mission because there is a clear strategy and a clear determination on behalf of the United States and other coalition member to see this through."
他说：“我认为英国民众了解阿富汗任务的重要性。他们了解阿富汗是全球恐怖份子的温床，恐怖份子发动了伤亡惨重的911事件。我认为英国民众将继续支持阿富汗战争，因为我们有明确的战略和决心，与美国和其他盟友共同度过这场难关。”
Nearly 200 British troops have died in Afghanistan since the U.S.-led invasion began in 2001. More than 20 troops have been killed this month in the major offensive against the Taliban in Helmand province.
自从美国领导的阿富汗战争在2001年开打以来，已经有近两百名英国军人阵亡，这个月，有超过20名英军军人在赫尔曼德省与塔利班的战斗中丧生。
Clinton, appearing alongside Miliband at a press event, hailed the bravery of British troops fighting alongside Americans. She expressed deep sadness over the battlefield losses, while also saying that coalition forces have made "significant gains".
与米利班德共同出席记者会的克林顿国务卿称赞英国部队的勇敢。她对战场上阵亡的士兵表达深切哀悼，但同时表示，联军部队在阿富汗已经取得重要胜利。
"We know that this is a challenge that is not going to be easily resolved in a short period of time," said Hillary Clinton. "But we believe that we are pursuing a strategy, both military and civilian, that holds out promise for achieving our principle objective - that is to destroy, dismantle and defeat al-Qaida and their allies in the syndicate of terror that has unfortunately taken root in Afghanistan and spilled over into Pakistan."
克林顿说：“我们知道这是一个无法在短期内轻易解决的挑战。但我们深信，我们所采取的军事和民事策略，将守住我们的承诺，达到原则性目标，那就是，消灭，摧毁和击败基地组织极其恐怖主义盟友，很不幸的，他们已经在阿富汗生根并且扩散到巴基斯坦。”
Clinton and Miliband stressed the importance of the August 20th Afghan presidential election - for reaffirming the democratic ideals for which the war is being fought and opening the way for a new Afghan government to share more of the security burden.
克林顿与米利班德都强调8月20号阿富汗总统大选的重要性，除了确立这场战争所追求的民主，也为新的阿富汗政府承担更多的安全责任铺平道路。
That point was also stressed by U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke, who in a press briefing here said it is "absolutely essential" that the Kabul government, over time, assumes responsibility for its own security while foreign troops are drawn down.
美国负责阿富汗和巴基斯坦事务的高级特使霍尔布鲁克对此也表示赞同。一起出席记者会的霍尔布鲁克说，在外国部队逐渐撤离时，喀布尔政府“绝对需要”逐步为自己国家的安全负责。
"The current force levels of police and army are clearly going to have to be increased," said Richard Holbrooke. "But we're in the middle of an election campaign in Afghanistan. And that election campaign has been going on, basically and in one form or another, since this administration took office."
他说：“目前阿富汗的警力和部队势必要再增强，但是我们目前处于阿富汗大选的竞选时期，基本上，这场大选的竞选活动从美国行政当局上任后就一直在持续。”
Holbrooke, just back from a visit to the region, said a perfect Afghan election is not possible, given among other things the likelihood that some polling stations may not open because of security concerns.
霍尔布鲁克最近才对阿富汗进行访问，他说要在那里举行一场完美的选举是不可能的，因为许多投票站可能因为安全顾虑而无法开放。
But he said the United States hopes to see an election that reflects the desires of those who do vote, and whose outcome is "accepted as legitimate" by the Afghan people and the world community.
但是他说，美国希望看到这场大选体现那些投票者的愿望，而大选结果也能得到阿富汗人民以及国际社会的接受。 |