VOA标准英语2009-Pakistan Military Denies New War Front in Wa

Pakistan's military said clashes in areas bordering North and South Waziristan do not yet represent the opening of a new war front against Taliban militants². But the military says such an offensive may come soon, and that in the meantime it is working to restore destroyed towns in Swat Valley for the return of more than 2.5 million displaced people.

Pakistan's army said it is targeting militants in several areas near the country's Waziristan tribal³ region, killing⁴ scores of Taliban fighters who officials say were preparing to stage terrorist attacks.
　
Major General Athar Abbas (File photo)

Top military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said the army went on the offensive because troops were being attacked in Bannu and Jani Khel district, both well-known militant¹ strongholds.

"This Jani Khel area is very notorious for criminal activities. All those who were kidnapped from major cities, like Peshawar, for ransom⁵ they almost always ended up in Jani Khel," he said. "The cadets who were hijacked⁶ from Razmak Cadet College, they were kidnapped from Jani Khel. So, therefore the government warned them [the militants] and since they did not hand over the criminals who were responsible for this, the government decided⁷ to target this area," he added.

There has been speculation⁸ the army would soon turn its attention to Waziristan, where top Taliban leader Baitullah Mesud is widely thought to be based. And while the military is not ruling out a future military offensive there, Abbas said, right now, the army's focus is in Swat Valley.

"First we have to clear up Swat because that's very important for the military and the government - to bring this operation to a logical conclusion. And it would also require chasing the militant leaders. So, therefore we are waiting for this first operation to conclude and then, yes, maybe if the government decides, Waziristan will come next," he said.

The army officially began its offensive in the Swat Valley just over a month ago after militants loyal to radical⁹ Islamic cleric Sufi Mohammed violated a peace deal and advanced to within 100 kilometers of the capital, Islamabad. The army has recaptured territory, including Swat's main town, Mingora. But the operation has created a humanitarian¹⁰ crisis, displacing more than 2.5 million people.

Military spokesman Abbas said since the army has successfully cleared major areas of Swat, it is now trying to rebuild war-battered areas so displaced Pakistanis, commonly called IDPs, can go home.
　
A Pakistani walks past the destruction caused by fighting between Pakistani security forces and Taliban militants in Mingora, Swat Valley (File)

"The administration is working on a war footing to restore the electricity, water and gas arrangements before the IDPs can return. We will not wait for the entire valley to be secured and then declare the victory. We will allow the IDPs to return in sequence," he said. "We will not allow the IDPs to return in bulk. But the moment the towns are cleared and secured and declared fit by the administration, we will allow the IDPs to return," said Abbas.

The return of Swat residents to their homes is considered key to maintaining a recent loss of public sympathy for the Taliban. Top Pakistani and U.S. officials say they are deeply concerned that those who have suffered the most as a result of the fighting in Swat may begin to resent the Pakistani government as they continue living day after day in tent cities in the sweltering heat.

1 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。

2 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。

3 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。

4 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

5 ransom   

n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救

参考例句：

• We'd better arrange the ransom right away.我们最好马上把索取赎金的事安排好。
• The kidnappers exacted a ransom of 10000 from the family.绑架者向这家人家勒索10000英镑的赎金。

6 hijacked   

劫持( hijack的过去式和过去分词 )； 绑架； 拦路抢劫； 操纵（会议等，以推销自己的意图）

参考例句：

• The plane was hijacked by two armed men on a flight from London to Rome. 飞机在从伦敦飞往罗马途中遭到两名持械男子劫持。
• The plane was hijacked soon after it took off. 那架飞机起飞后不久被劫持了。

7 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

8 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

9 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

10 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。