2007年VOA标准英语-India to Allow Tourists on Disputed Glacier

By Anjana Pasricha
New Delhi
19 September 2007

India is allowing a group of tourists to visit the Siachen glacier¹ in the disputed region of Kashmir for the first time, despite objections by Pakistan.  As Anjana Pasricha reports from New Delhi, thousands of soldiers from both countries have occupied the Siachen glacier for more than two decades. 

The Indian defense² ministry³ says a group of tourists is being flown to Leh, and will walk to the Siachen glacier after they adjust to the high altitude.

This is the first time civilians⁵ are being allowed to go to the glacier, which lies on the dividing line between Indian and Pakistani Kashmir.  Officials say it is part of India's plans to open the area to tourism.

India and Pakistan have been locked in a bitter dispute over Siachen since 1984 when Indian troops occupied the 6,300-meter-high glacier.  Since then, thousands of soldiers from both sides have confronted each other across the icy peaks, known as the world's highest battlefield. 

Pakistan has objected to the trip, saying tourism should not be allowed in the area since it remains⁶ a disputed zone.  Pakistan's foreign ministry said earlier this week that such initiatives would harm a dialogue process between the two countries.

But, Indian Defense Ministry spokesman Colonel S.K. Sakhuja says the trip is going ahead as planned.  The civilian⁴ mountaineers will be accompanied by soldiers familiar with the terrain⁷.

"The factual position is that we consider this as a adventure activity, a routine adventure activity, and we have this going from today," he said.   

Analysts⁹ say the plan to open Siachen to tourists is part of efforts by India to authenticate¹⁰ its claim to the strategic glacier in the Kashmir region. 

"The message really is that this is not disputed territory, that Siachen is part of Indian territory, or territory under Indian control in Jammu and Kashmir, and this sort of activity merely, in a sense, symbolizes¹¹ that fact," said Bharat Karnad, a defense analyst⁸ with New Delhi's Center for Policy Research.  "Pakistan claims it is disputed territory and I think they are protesting primarily because they think that trekkers and such others would, in effect, undercut their claims to the Siachen area." 

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that Siachen should be turned into a "mountain of peace" and both countries have held talks on withdrawing troops from the glacier - but there has been little progress, so far. Harsh weather has claimed the lives of hundreds of troops in the region. 

India and Pakistan began a slow-moving peace process three years ago.  The peace talks have lowered tensions and ended the regular shelling and firing that took place on their disputed border for decades.  But, both sides have failed to make any headway in settling their conflicting claims to the Kashmir region.

1 glacier   

n.冰川，冰河

参考例句：

• The glacier calved a large iceberg.冰河崩解而形成一个大冰山。
• The upper surface of glacier is riven by crevasses.冰川的上表面已裂成冰隙。

2 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

3 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

4 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

5 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

6 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

7 terrain   

n.地面，地形，地图

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• He knows the terrain of this locality like the back of his hand.他对这一带的地形了如指掌。

8 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

9 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。

10 authenticate   

vt.证明…为真，鉴定

参考例句：

• We would have to authenticate your relationship with the boy.我们必须证实一下您和那个孩子的关系。
• An expert was needed to authenticate the original Van Gogh painting from his imitation.这幅画是凡·高的真迹还是赝品,需由专家来鉴定。

11 symbolizes   

v.象征，作为…的象征( symbolize的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The use of light and dark symbolizes good and evil. 用光明与黑暗来象征善与恶。
• She likes olive because It'symbolizes peace. 她喜欢橄榄色因为它象征着和平。 来自《简明英汉词典》