voa标准英语2008-Pakistan Offers to Help Investigate Mumbai Terro

Pakistan has offered a joint¹ investigation² into terror attacks in Mumbai, after India blamed elements in Pakistan for planning the deadly violence. From Islamabad, Ayaz Gul reports senior government officials also say they will "frame a response" to New Delhi's demand that Pakistan hand over 20 fugitives³ from Indian law who are allegedly hiding in Pakistan.
　

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi

Pakistan has denied involvement of the country's intelligence agencies in the Mumbai attacks, describing them as "barbaric acts." It has vowed⁴ to work with India to bring those involved to justice.

In a televised address to Pakistani citizens, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi reiterated⁵ that position, saying it is not the time for finger-pointing.

Mr. Qureshi said the Pakistani government has offered a joint investigating mechanism⁶ and a joint commission to New Delhi to help probe the militant⁷ assault on Mumbai. He reiterated that Pakistan wants good relations with India.

The foreign minister told Pakistanis they have no reason to worry because the government and the country's armed forces are united and capable of defending Pakistan.

Mr. Qureshi did not refer to a statement by his counterpart in India, Pranab Mukherjee, that New Delhi has demanded Islamabad handover about 20 fugitives it believes are hiding in Pakistan.

The list of men wanted in India reportedly included Dawood Ibrahim, a Mumbai underworld leader, and Maulana Masood Azhar, leader of an outlawed⁸ Pakistan-based Islamic group. Both the men are blamed for planning previous terrorist attacks in India.

Pakistani Information Minister Sherry Rehman told reporters the government is preparing a response to the Indian demand.

"We have to look at it formally once we receive it and we will frame a response to that," Rehman said. "We must try to dampen down the discourse⁹ of conflict and work towards regional peace."
　

Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani speaks at the National Security Conference in Islamabad to discuss ongoing10 tension between India and Pakistan, Tuesday, 02 Dec. 2008

In an interview to an Indian television station, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said terrorism is a common enemy and both countries need to jointly¹¹ fight it.

"If they are facing the same problem and we are facing the same problem, and if we go into a blame game those people will be rewarded who have done this (Mumbai attacks) action," Gilani said. "Therefore we should have mutual¹² cooperation to jointly fight against extremism."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Gilani has convened¹³ a meeting of leaders of all the political parties in the country to discuss rising tensions with India. The Islamabad meeting is expected to devise a national consensus¹⁴ on how to defuse the crisis and help India investigate the Mumbai attacks.

1 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

2 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

3 fugitives   

n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Three fugitives from the prison are still at large. 三名逃犯仍然未被抓获。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Members of the provisional government were prisoners or fugitives. 临时政府的成员或被捕或逃亡。 来自演讲部分

4 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

5 reiterated   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• "Well, I want to know about it,'she reiterated. “嗯，我一定要知道你的休假日期，"她重复说。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some twenty-two years later President Polk reiterated and elaborated upon these principles. 大约二十二年之后，波尔克总统重申这些原则并且刻意阐释一番。

6 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

7 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。

8 outlawed   

宣布…为不合法（outlaw的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Most states have outlawed the use of marijuana. 大多数州都宣布使用大麻为非法行为。
• I hope the sale of tobacco will be outlawed someday. 我希望有朝一日烟草制品会禁止销售。

9 discourse   

n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述

参考例句：

• We'll discourse on the subject tonight.我们今晚要谈论这个问题。
• He fell into discourse with the customers who were drinking at the counter.他和站在柜台旁的酒客谈了起来。

10 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

11 jointly   

ad.联合地，共同地

参考例句：

• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
• She owns the house jointly with her husband. 她和丈夫共同拥有这所房子。

12 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

13 convened   

召开( convene的过去式 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合

参考例句：

• The chairman convened the committee to put the issue to a vote. 主席召集委员们开会对这个问题进行表决。
• The governor convened his troops to put down the revolt. 总督召集他的部队去镇压叛乱。

14 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？