VOA标准英语2008年-Pakistani Governor Confirms Peace Deals With Tr

The governor of Pakistan's Northwest Frontier Province has confirmed that Pakistan's federal government signed a peace agreement with about 300 tribal¹ leaders in North Waziristan in January. The agreement, which has not been officially acknowledged before, is one of several controversial deals that have been blamed for worsening violence in neighboring Afghanistan. VOA's Barry Newhouse reports from Peshawar, Pakistan.
　
Pakistani army soldiers patrol in Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan, near the border with Afghanistan (File photo)

North Waziristan has long served as a hub for several Taliban militant² groups as well as al-Qaida fighters. In 2007, the tribal agency was the scene of fierce battles between militant groups and Pakistani security forces.

But since January this year, North Waziristan has experienced relatively³ few clashes with Pakistani troops - leading to rumors⁴ that the government had signed a peace agreement.

Northwest Frontier Province Governor Owais Ghani is the top administrator⁵ of the adjoining tribal agencies. He confirmed to VOA the government signed a peace deal in North Waziristan on January 17th - and he says it is the only such deal the federal government has signed so far.

"The only agency where we have signed an agreement is in the North Waziristan agency, where over 300 tribal elders have signed," said Owais Ghani. "And like I said, this is between the tribes and the government of Pakistan."

Governor Ghani said the tribal elders pledged to prevent cross-border attacks into Afghanistan, cease attacks on security forces and government installations, discourage militancy⁶ and expel foreign fighters. In return, the government promised socio-economic development.

Political leaders in the Northwest Frontier Province have signed similar agreements with other militant groups in northwest Pakistan, but the federal government says it has stayed out of the negotiations⁷.

Ghani defended the Pakistan government's reliance on peace agreements, despite criticism from the Afghan government and NATO and U.S. commanders. He said the agreements are part of a broader strategy that also uses military force and economic development.

"The previous agreements were between the military and the militants⁸ - they were limited in scope and they were wrong," he said. "They were strategically wrong - that is why they did not work out. These agreements that we are conducting now are between the government of Pakistan and the tribal people. And this is based on the traditional relationship we have with them."

While Ghani says the peace agreement in North Waziristan appears to be working in reducing violence in Pakistan, NATO commanders in Afghan provinces bordering Pakistan's tribal regions have reported a 40 percent increase in attacks over the previous year.

Ghani blames Afghanistan's booming opium⁹ crop for undermining security throughout the region and funding militant groups that thrive in lawless zones of Afghanistan. He says Pakistan has offered to improve border security through fencing and mining remote border regions, but Afghan officials have refused.

 

1 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

2 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。

3 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

4 rumors   

n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

6 militancy   

n.warlike behavior or tendency

参考例句：

• Full of militancy and revolutionary ardour, the people of all nationalities in the country are working hard for the realization of the four modernizations. 全国各族人民意气风发， 斗志昂扬，为实现四个现代化而奋战。
• The seniority system is another factor that leads to union militancy. 排资论辈制度也是导致工会好斗争的另一因素。

7 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

8 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

9 opium   

n.鸦片；adj.鸦片的

参考例句：

• That man gave her a dose of opium.那男人给了她一剂鸦片。
• Opium is classed under the head of narcotic.鸦片是归入麻醉剂一类的东西。