VOA常速英语2013--华盛顿密切关注印巴紧张关系（在线收听）

Washington Closely Monitoring Rising Tensions Between Nuclear Rivals 华盛顿密切关注印巴紧张关系 

The United States is closely watching escalating tensions between Pakistan and India. While U.S. focus in the region is on the American troop drawdown in neighboring Afghanistan, analysts say Washington is keeping a close eye on Indo-Pakistani relations.

美国正密切关注巴基斯坦和印度间不断加剧的紧张局势。虽然目前美国在该地区的重点是缩减在阿富汗的美国驻军，但专家分析说，华盛顿也在密切关注印巴关系。

The latest tensions began last week, when India accused Pakistan of attacking and killing five of its troops in the disputed Kashmir region. Pakistan denied the allegation. The escalation in tension between the two nuclear rivals is a cause of concern not just for the region, but also for the United States, according to Robert Hathaway of the Wilson Center.

上周，印度指责巴基斯坦在有争议的克什米尔地区发动攻击并打死5名印度军人，从而引发最新的紧张局势。巴基斯坦否认了这一指控。美国伍德罗威尔逊国际学者中心的罗伯特哈撒韦认为，这两个核对手之间关系的进一步紧张不仅在该地区，而且在美国也引起关注。

"Obviously, when any time two nuclear-armed rivals experience a rise in tensions, that’s worrisome in and of itself. In addition, the U.S. is determined to withdraw from Afghanistan with as much dignity and as good an order as possible. So, turmoil in the region also has an impact on American plans to withdraw from Afghanistan," said Hathaway.

哈撒韦说：“显然，任何时候两个有核武器的对手之间紧张局势升级，这本身就令人担忧。另外，因为美国决心尽可能体面并有秩序的从阿富汗撤军，所以，印巴地区的动荡对美国的撤军计划也会产生影响，”

Since the beginning of the war in Afghanistan, the U.S. has sought Pakistan’s cooperation. And analysts believe such cooperation will be equally important in the drawdown.

从阿富汗战争一开始，美国就寻求与巴基斯坦合作。有专家分析认为，两国的合作对美国撤军也同样重要。

"Washington would very much like to see Pakistani troops on the Pakistani-Afghan border, preventing the Jihadis and the other extremist groups from crossing their safe haven sanctuaries in Pakistan into Afghanistan and attacking NATO troops. If there’s a crisis in Kashmir, Pakistan is far more likely to move its forces from its western border to its eastern border and that will clearly have an impact on the U.S. plans for withdrawal from Afghanistan," said Hathaway.

哈撒韦说：“华盛顿非常希望看到巴基斯坦驻军在巴基斯坦和阿富汗边境，阻止圣战组织和其他极端团体从他们在巴基斯坦的安全避风港进入阿富汗，攻击北约部队。如果克什米尔发生危机，巴基斯坦军队非常有可能从西部边境转移到东部边境，这显然会对美国从阿富汗撤军的计划产生影响。”

Pakistan says it is committed to crushing the elements causing instability in the region. Experts like Lisa Curtis, at Washington's Heritage Foundation, say the current India-Pakistan tensions should be taken into consideration as the U.S. prepares to withdraw from Afghanistan.

巴基斯坦表示，将不遗余力地清除造成该地区不稳定的因素。华盛顿传统基金会的莉萨柯蒂斯说，美国准备从阿富汗撤军之际，应该考虑目前的印巴紧张局势。

"The point some of us are trying to make is that, if the U.S. withdraws too quickly, without paying attention to conditions on the ground, without ensuring that Afghan security forces are able to hold their own against the Taliban, that this indeed will fuel the cycle of violence, and that will raise tensions between India and Pakistan," said Curtis.

柯蒂斯说：“我们想说的是，如果美国不考虑当地的情况，在没有确保阿富汗安全部队有能力自主对抗塔利班的情况下而太快撤军，将会导致暴力升级，从而令印度和巴基斯坦间的紧张局势进一步加剧。”

Since the United States has good relations with both India and Pakistan, experts believe it should play a role in helping de-escalate the tensions between the two countries.

由于美国与印度和巴基斯坦都保持着良好关系，专家认为，美国应该能够帮助减缓两国之间的紧张气氛。

"The U.S. should be trying to reduce the tensions between the two countries. The U.S. has a lot of experience in trying to ensure that the conflict does not escalate between India and Pakistan. The U.S. has good relationships with both countries. So, it can do this. What it can’t do is to play a mediating role between the two countries," said Curtis.

柯蒂斯说：“美国应该努力减少两国之间的紧张关系。美国有很多经验，有助于确保印巴冲突不会进一步升级。美国与两国关系良好，所以可以做到这一点。它不能做的，是扮演两国之间调解者的角色。”

Curtis says New Delhi and Islamabad should now focus on confidence-building measures to de-escalate the situation.

柯蒂斯认为，新德里和伊斯兰堡现在应该专注于建立互信措施，防止冲突升级。