VOA标准英语2008年-Extremist Violence in Northwestern Pakistan Lea

Pro-Taliban extremists in northwestern Pakistan have killed 22 members of a pro-government tribe. The remote violence-plagued area borders the volatile¹ tribal² region of South Waziristan on the Afghan border, which is believed to be a safe haven³ for al-Qaida and Taliban fugitives⁴. From Islamabad, Ayaz Gul reports.

Residents and local officials say that those murdered were among at least 27 members of the pro-government Bhittani tribe kidnapped by Taliban militants⁶ during a raid on the town of Jandola earlier this week.

District Coordination⁷ Officer Barkatullah Marwat told VOA by telephone that Taliban militants killed most of their captives and dumped their bodies just outside the town.

"We received about 22 dead bodies sent by Taliban and they have been handed over to their respective tribes for burial purposes," he said.

Marwat says the government has stepped up security in and around Jandola and denied earlier reports that the strategic town had fallen to Taliban militants.

"These are just rumors," he said. "They have not acquired Jandolah, but their influence over Jandolah has increased. There is no doubt in it."

The Pakistani town where the incident took place is located on the main road used for sending supplies to government forces stationed in the South Waziristan tribal region, which is a stronghold of Pakistani Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud.

The Waziristan region is also believed to be used by Taliban militants for cross-border attacks on local and foreign forces in Afghanistan.

Taliban militants have carried out regular attacks on Pakistani security forces and their local supporters in the tribal areas. But in recent months, these extremists have extended their subversive⁸ activities to some of the urban centers of the North-West Frontier Province.

Incidents like kidnapping of government officials, blowing up of female education centers and banning music on some areas have become routine in recent weeks.

The rise in the extremist activities is occurring despite Pakistani government attempts to engage militants in talks to end the violence.

But the policy is under fire from Afghan and NATO-led forces as well as U.S officials. They say that peace talks and peace deals with militants can help them regroup to launch more cross-border attacks.

U.S military commanders stationed in eastern Afghanistan say insurgent⁹ attacks launched from the militant⁵ hideouts on the Pakistani side of the border have increased this year.

1 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

2 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

3 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

4 fugitives   

n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Three fugitives from the prison are still at large. 三名逃犯仍然未被抓获。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Members of the provisional government were prisoners or fugitives. 临时政府的成员或被捕或逃亡。 来自演讲部分

5 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

6 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

7 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

8 subversive   

adj.颠覆性的，破坏性的；n.破坏份子，危险份子

参考例句：

• She was seen as a potentially subversive within the party.她被看成党内潜在的颠覆分子。
• The police is investigating subversive group in the student organization.警方正调查学生组织中的搞颠覆阴谋的集团。

9 insurgent   

adj.叛乱的，起事的；n.叛乱分子

参考例句：

• Faruk says they are threatened both by insurgent and government forces.法鲁克说，他们受到暴乱分子和政府军队的双重威胁。
• The insurgent mob assembled at the gate of the city park.叛变的暴徒聚在市立公园的门口。