VOA标准英语2008年-Pakistan Army Reports 10 Militants Killed Durin

A spokesman for Pakistan's army says 10 militants² have been killed and five troops wounded during an operation aimed at re-taking control of an area in the country's northwest. VOA's Barry Newhouse reports from Islamabad on the clashes that began after security forces captured a deputy of Pakistan's top Taliban leader.

Pakistani armed forces launched the operation in Hangu district on Wednesday, following days of clashes between local security forces and several militant¹ groups.

Army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas says troops have moved north about 20 kilometers, and are now on the border of the Kurram tribal³ agency.

"At present, the operation is around the town of Zargari. The area around the town - the strongholds, etc. - are being cleared by the army and other troops," said Abbas.

Zargari is where fighters allied⁴ with Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud killed 17 paramilitary troops in an ambush⁵ last week. Militants in the region are also believed to have kidnapped about 20 people - some of whom are government workers.

The insurgents⁶ have demanded that police release seven of their fighters who were captured last week. One of those captured is a top deputy to Mehsud.

Following the clashes with government forces, a spokesman for the Taliban leader on Thursday accused officials in the Northwest Frontier Province of being insincere in recent peace talks. The Taliban spokesman said the province's ruling coalition⁷, led by the Awami National Party, had five days to resign, or militants would begin an offensive against the government.

Pakistani media quoted regional officials calling the threat "nonsense," and saying that voters had given the government a mandate⁸ for five years.

When asked if the Pakistani Taliban has the capability⁹ to threaten the provincial¹⁰ government, Pakistan's army spokesman declined to comment.

　

 

1 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。

2 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。

3 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。

4 allied   

adj.协约国的；同盟国的

参考例句：

• Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
• Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。

5 ambush   

n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击

参考例句：

• Our soldiers lay in ambush in the jungle for the enemy.我方战士埋伏在丛林中等待敌人。
• Four men led by a sergeant lay in ambush at the crossroads.由一名中士率领的四名士兵埋伏在十字路口。

6 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

7 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

8 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

9 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

10 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。