VOA标准英语2009年-US Envoy, Indian Officials Discuss Regiona

By Steve Herman
New Delhi
16 October 2009
  
A Pakistani policeman and bystanders remove an injured suicide car bomb blast victim after an attack on a Peshawar police building, 16 Oct 2009
The escalating¹ violence in Pakistan was among the regional security threats discussed in meetings between a top American envoy² visiting New Delhi and members of the Indian cabinet.

The visit here by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State William Burns came amid rising concern in India about terrorist violence spilling over again into this country.

Israeli and Indian media report the Counter-Terrorism Bureau in Jerusalem has upgraded a warning to Israelis and other foreigners traveling in India about a "concrete threat" against Jewish facilities here.

A Jewish center was among the targets attacked last November in Mumbai by Pakistani-based militants³ who killed about 170 people.

India's external affairs minister, S.M. Krishna, is expressing concern about terrorist forces in Pakistan that, he says, "invariably" have India as the object of their attacks.

 
US Assistant Sec. of State William Burns in New Delhi, 16 Oct 2009
Burns, at a brief news conference before leaving India, was asked about the increased attacks in the region and the threats against India. He commented that Washington and New Delhi are mutually disturbed about them, including the October 8 bombing outside India's Embassy in Kabul.

"I think all of us are concerned about the situation in Afghanistan, as well as rising violence in Pakistan," he said. "And I think that simply underscores the importance of our collective effort to support Afghan authorities in a fight against violent extremists who have in the past done great damage to many of us and who threaten all of us in the future," he said.

Burns added the same is true in Pakistan with regard to the support Washington is giving Islamabad to take on terrorism there.

He made his remarks as Pakistani lawmakers ponder a controversial American aid package which President Barack Obama signed on Thursday. It would give Pakistan $7.5 billion over five years. But aspects of the aid program are generating objections from the Pakistani military which sees the package as impinging on the country's sovereignty.

Burns acknowledged to reporters here that measures have been included in the legislation to ensure that the development money is properly used "for the purposes intended."

India has complained that previous American aid given to fight domestic terrorism was misused⁴ by the Pakistani military and spent on weapons and equipment to deter⁵ India.

Pakistan and India both have nuclear arsenals⁶ and have fought several wars since winning independence from the British in 1947.

 
Indian PM Manmohan Singh File)
 
During his two days in the country Burns had what are described as "in depth" discussions with his counterpart, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao. He also met with external affairs minister Krishna, national security advisor⁷ M.K. Narayanan and other members of the cabinet of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The talks were also meant to help both countries prepare for the upcoming state visit by Mr. Singh to the White House next month.

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 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

3 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。

4 misused   

v.使用…不当( misuse的过去式和过去分词 )；把…派作不正当的用途；虐待；滥用

参考例句：

• He misused his dog shamefully. 他可耻地虐待自己的狗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He had grossly misused his power. 他严重滥用职权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 deter   

vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住

参考例句：

• Failure did not deter us from trying it again.失败并没有能阻挡我们再次进行试验。
• Dogs can deter unwelcome intruders.狗能够阻拦不受欢迎的闯入者。

6 arsenals   

n.兵工厂，军火库( arsenal的名词复数 )；任何事物的集成

参考例句：

• We possess-each of us-nuclear arsenals capable of annihilating humanity. 我们两国都拥有能够毁灭全人类的核武库。 来自辞典例句
• Arsenals are factories that produce weapons. 军工厂是生产武器的工厂。 来自互联网

7 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。