Pakistani security forces say they have made significant gains in their ongoing offensive in a tribal region bordering Afghanistan. The two-month military operation in the Bajaur area, they say, has killed more than 1,500 militants while 73 soldiers also have died.
巴基斯坦安全部队表示，他们在巴基斯坦和阿富汗边境的部落地区所开展的进攻已经取得显著进展。他们说，在巴焦尔地区进行了两个月的军事行动已经杀死了超过1千5百名武装分子，但同时造成73名士兵丧生。
By taking the key settlement of Loisam in the troubled north-western region, Pakistani military authorities say they have dealt a severe blow to communication lines of militants linked to al-Qaida and Taliban in the Bajaur region. The village was completely destroyed after heavy fighting.
巴基斯坦军方说，在混乱的西北部区域夺回关键的洛伊色姆居民区，沉重打击了在巴焦尔地区与塔利班和基地组织有联系的激进分子的沟通渠道。这个村落在猛烈战斗中完全被摧毁。
The operation in the region began in early August after several major attacks on the army.
巴基斯坦军队在受到几次重大袭击后，在8月初展开在巴焦尔地区的行动。
The commander of the ongoing operation in Bajaur, Major-General Tariq Khan, told a group of local and foreign reporters on Saturday that troops were now in complete control of the town of Loisam. But he acknowledged the militants had been offering stiff resistance to his soldiers from their network of tunnels and fortified compounds.
巴焦尔地区行动指挥官塔里克汗少将星期六对一群当地和外国的记者说，军队现在完全控制了洛伊色姆镇。但他承认，激进分子仍然从地道网络以及防御工事内进行顽抗。
"It was a very unusual kind of battle," said General Khan. "It was not conventional. The resistance would dissolve in places wherever we would attack. It would regroup and reappear in the rear. This was facilitated by the underground tunnels that were made with caches of weapons that had been stored and placed all over."
他说：“这是个很不寻常的战斗。这不是传统的战斗。反抗势力会在我们的进攻地点就地解散。他们会在后方重新组合出现。他们是借助地下通道，地下通道内各处密藏著武器。”
Bajaur is one of the tribal areas on the Afghan border where the government has previously had little influence. Taliban and al-Qaida raids into Afghanistan from this mountainous tribal region are regularly launched from here.
巴焦尔是阿富汗边界一个部落地区，政府在那里几乎没有影响力。塔利班和基地组织经常通过这里的部落地区山地向阿富汗发动攻击。
General Khan says that elimination of militants from this agency will discourage militancy in other tribal areas. "The worst is over and I think things from here onward will be much easier. In my personal feeling, I think we have turned the corner," he said.
塔里克汗将军说，剿灭这个机构的激进分子会削弱其他部落地区的暴力活动。塔里克汗将军说：“最糟糕的情况已经过去，我认为从此剿匪行动会比较容易开展。我个人的感觉是，我们已经扭转了局面。”
The Pakistani government is also encouraging tribesmen to revive traditional militias, known as lashkars, to rout out militants in their areas. But General Khan rejected criticism that the militias could pose a threat to Pakistani authority once the militants are evicted. He also denied media reports the government is providing the Lashkars with weapons.
巴基斯坦政府也鼓励部落人员恢复传统民兵组织“虔诚军”，以清除他们部落地区的激进分子。有些人批评说，一旦激进分子被驱逐，这些民兵可能对巴基斯坦当局构成威胁。塔里克汗将军否定了这一批评。他还否认媒体说政府在向“虔诚军”提供武器的报导。
"We are not providing any weapons or any kind of support to the lashkars [tribal militias] and they are made up with their own resources," said General Khan. "It dissolves after if has met its objectives."
塔里克汗说：“我们没有提供任何武器或者向‘虔诚军’提供任何支持。他们是用自己的资源组建而成的。他们达到目标之后将解散。”
Pakistani authorities say that 300 foreign militants had been arrested during the offensive. Uzbeks, Tajiks and Afghans are among the detainees.
巴基斯坦当局说，大约300名外国激进分子在这次进攻行动中被捕。被逮捕的人中有乌孜别克人、塔吉克人和阿富汗人。 |