VOA标准英语2008年-NATO Helicopters, Pakistan Troops Exchange Fire

NATO officials in Afghanistan say Pakistani troops have fired on NATO helicopters flying inside Afghanistan. VOA's Barry Newhouse reports from Islamabad, where Pakistani military officials insisted the helicopters crossed into Pakistan and then border guards and the helicopters traded fire.

Pakistan army spokesman¹ Major General Athar Abbas said the incident occurred when two helicopters flying in Afghanistan crossed into Pakistani airspace, right at a Pakistani security² post.

"They did cross and flew over the post, they passed by the post and then the post opened fire. This was an anticipatory³ warning fire by the border post," he said.

General Abbas said the helicopters returned fire and then returned to Afghanistan.

In Kabul, a NATO spokeswoman said the helicopters never crossed into Pakistani territory.

"ISAF helicopters received small arms fire from a Pakistan military checkpoint along the border near Tanai district, Khost, September 25 while conducting routing operations in Afghanistan," she said. "At no time did ISAF helicopters cross into Pakistani airspace."

The NATO spokeswoman said the helicopters were not damaged, and both sides said no casualties⁴ were reported.

The incident is the first time top officials on either side have confirmed a shooting incident involving NATO helicopters and Pakistani border forces. Pakistani intelligence officials in the border regions⁵ have reported at least two other similar shooting incidents in recent weeks, but both NATO and the Pakistani military later denied the claims.

The Pentagon said the Pakistani military must explain why the incident occurred.

1 spokesman   

n.发言人，代言人

参考例句：

• The government spokesman gave a quick briefing to the reporters.政府发言人向记者们作了情况简介。
• They drew lots to decide who should be their spokesman.他们抽签决定谁是他们的发言人。

2 security   

n.安全，安全感；防护措施；保证(金)，抵押(品)；债券，证券

参考例句：

• A security guard brought him down with a flying tackle.一名保安人员飞身把他抱倒。
• There was tight security at the airport when the President's plane landed.总统的专机降落时，机场的保安措施很严密。

3 anticipatory   

adj.预想的，预期的

参考例句：

• An anticipatory story is a trap to the teller.对于讲故事的人而言，事先想好的故事是个框框。
• Data quality is a function of systematic usage,not anticipatory design.数据质量是系统使用的功能，不是可预料的设计。

4 casualties   

n. 伤亡人员

参考例句：

• Two casualties were airlifted to safety . 两名伤亡人员已空运到安全地区。
• The army were still fighting in spite of heavy casualties. 尽管伤亡人员众多，军队仍在继续战斗。

5 regions   

n.地区( region的名词复数 )；[数学]区域；（艺术、科学等的）领域；行政区

参考例句：

• A flying doctor service operates in remote regions. 在偏远地区有飞行医生服务。
• More powers are gradually being devolved to the regions. 正逐步向地方下放更多的权力。 来自《简明英汉词典》