VOA常速英语2013--华盛顿密切关注印巴紧张关系

 

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 escalating¹ tensions between Pakistan and India. While U.S. focus in the region is on the American troop drawdown in neighboring Afghanistan, analysts² 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 killing³ five of its troops in the disputed Kashmir region. Pakistan denied the allegation. The escalation⁴ 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 determined⁵ to withdraw from Afghanistan with as much dignity and as good an order as possible. So, turmoil⁶ 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 haven⁷ sanctuaries⁸ 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 withdrawal⁹ 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 helping¹⁰ de-escalate¹¹ 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 mediating¹² 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。

1 escalating   

v.（使）逐步升级( escalate的现在分词 )；（使）逐步扩大；（使）更高；（使）更大

参考例句：

• The cost of living is escalating. 生活费用在迅速上涨。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The cost of living is escalating in the country. 这个国家的生活费用在上涨。 来自辞典例句

2 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

3 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

4 escalation   

n.扩大，增加

参考例句：

• The threat of nuclear escalation remains. 核升级的威胁仍旧存在。 来自辞典例句
• Escalation is thus an aspect of deterrence and of crisis management. 因此逐步升级是威慑和危机处理的一个方面。 来自辞典例句

5 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

6 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

7 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。

8 sanctuaries   

n.避难所( sanctuary的名词复数 )；庇护；圣所；庇护所

参考例句：

• The designation of special marine reserves and marine sanctuaries shall be subject to the State Council for approval. 海洋特别保护区、海上自然保护区的确定，须经国务院批准。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• After 1965 he acquiesced when they established sanctuaries on that soil. 1965年以后，他默认了他们在那块土地上建立庇护所。 来自辞典例句

9 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

10 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

11 escalate   

v.(使)逐步增长(或发展)，(使)逐步升级

参考例句：

• It would tempt Israel's neighbors to escalate their demands.它将诱使以色列的邻国不断把他们的要求升级。
• Defeat could cause one side or other to escalate the conflict.失败可能会导致其中一方将冲突升级。

12 mediating   

调停，调解，斡旋( mediate的现在分词 )； 居间促成； 影响…的发生； 使…可能发生

参考例句：

• So many factors are mediating. 如此众多的因素在起作用。
• The contrast in mediating noted in the sitting room. 客厅中注重了调和中的对比。