2006年VOA标准英语-Afghan Militant Attacks Rise Sharply Along Paki

By Benjamin Sand
Islamabad
28 September 2006

Pakistan earlier this month signed a deal with pro-Taleban militants² in its North Waziristan province, aimed at reducing militant¹ raids into Eastern Afghanistan. But U.S. officials report a sharp rise in violence in that same part of Afghanistan.

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The deal, signed three weeks ago, was presented as a major breakthrough in Pakistan's efforts to reinforce security along the Pakistan-Afghan border.

But U.S. military officials say extremist attacks in eastern Afghanistan have tripled since the peace deal was signed September 5.

Colonel Jon Paradis, a U.S. military spokesman in Afghanistan, says the fighting is particularly strong just across the border from Pakistan's volatile³ tribal⁴ areas of North Waziristan.

"There has been an increase in activity, certainly along the border region, especially in the southeast areas across from North Waziristan," said Paradis. "They have seen, in some cases, two-fold, in some cases, three-fold increases in the number of attacks."

Paradis says the violence stems at least in part from stepped-up U.S. military operations in the area. U.S. officials are declining to comment on any direct links between the latest attacks and Islamabad's agreement with North Waziristan.  

Pakistani army soldiers patrol at the army helicopters landing area of Miranshah, North Waziristan, near border with Afghanistan (File photo)

Under that agreement, the government promised to withdraw most of its troops from the region. In exchange, tribal leaders agreed to expel foreign extremists and help end cross-border raids.

Pakistani officials hailed the agreement as a significant step toward peace in the volatile region. But Afghan officials and local security experts say the deal effectively cedes⁵ control of the tribal areas to religious extremists, including pro-Taleban militants.

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has rejected those concerns, defending the accord last week during a joint⁶ press conference with U.S. President George W. Bush at the White House.

"This deal is not at all with the Taleban, as I said, this is against the Taleban, actually. This deal is with the tribal elders of North Waziristan agency," he said. "And when they signed the deal, they are honor-bound to not only abide⁷ by it, but also that whoever violates it, they will move against them."

Pakistani officials say militant attacks against government forces in North Waziristan have dropped significantly since the accord was signed. But authorities say militants have murdered at least three men in the same period after accusing them of being U.S. spies.

Border security remains⁸ a major source of tension between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has repeatedly accused Islamabad of allowing Taleban insurgents⁹ to establish safe havens¹⁰ inside the Pakistani tribal agencies.

President Bush this week pressed both sides to improve coordination¹¹ on regional security.

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 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

4 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。

5 cedes   

v.让给，割让，放弃( cede的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• MILWAUKEE, Feb. 29, 2008? Rockwell Automation will acquire the Safety and Automation business of CEDES AG. 密尔沃基2月29日消息——罗克韦尔自动化将收购CEDES公司的安全和自动化业务。 来自互联网
• Any system that cedes those rights will lead to anarchy. 任何割让那些权利的体制都将导致政治混乱。 来自互联网

6 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。

7 abide   

vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受

参考例句：

• You must abide by the results of your mistakes.你必须承担你的错误所造成的后果。
• If you join the club,you have to abide by its rules.如果你参加俱乐部，你就得遵守它的规章。

8 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。

9 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

10 havens   

n.港口，安全地方( haven的名词复数 )v.港口，安全地方( haven的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Your twenty havens would back out at the last minute anyhow. 你那二十个避难所到了最后一分钟也要不认帐。 来自辞典例句
• Using offshore havens to avoid taxes and investor protections. 使用海面的港口避免税和投资者保护。 来自互联网

11 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。