VOA标准英语2009年-India Says Kabul Bombing Targeted Its Emba

By Steve Herman
New Delhi
08 October 2009

India's government says no embassy personnel were killed or severely¹ injured in a car bombing outside its diplomatic compound Thursday morning in Kabul. But Indian officials contend the attack, indeed, targeted the embassy.

Indian officials say the blast shattered windows and blew off doors of embassy buildings, but no one inside was hurt.

India says three members of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, standing² outside on guard duty, were slightly injured by shrapnel.

Afghan investigators³ inspect the site of an explosion near the Indian Embassy in Kabul, 08 Oct 2009
It is Afghan civilians⁴ who bore the brunt of the attack, when the blast tore through a market building across the street from the Embassy. Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao told reporters in New Delhi the attack was certainly directed at India's diplomatic compound.

"The suicide bomber⁵ came up to the outside perimeter⁶ wall of the embassy, in a car loaded with explosives, obviously with the aim of targeting the embassy," said Rao.

For India, the attack revives memories of a similar bombing, 15 months ago. That explosion left dozens of people dead, including two Indian diplomats⁷.

Since then the road in front of the embassy, across the street from the Afghan Interior Ministry⁸, has been barricaded⁹ and the diplomatic compound is surrounded by a double layer of high-rise walls.

Foreign Secretary Rao says the latest attack was similar in intensity¹⁰ to the July, 2008, blast which India blames on Pakistan's intelligence service. 

"Subsequent to that tragedy, the government of India had taken extra and very stringent¹¹ measures to safeguard the security, the physical security, of our personnel and our embassy in Kabul," said Rao. "And, I believe that those measures have worked effectively and have been able to prevent what could have been a tragedy similar to what had occurred in July, 2008."

This latest attack on India's embassy comes less than a day after the Indian foreign secretary announced her country's support for reconciliation¹² with the Taliban. Analysts¹³ are interpreting that as a significant change in India's stance.

Since the ouster of the Taliban from power in Kabul, in 2001, India has refrained from taking political initiatives regarding Afghanistan. India contributes substantial aid to Afghanistan - more than $1 billion - its largest foreign assistance program. Most of that goes to building roads, electrical power plants and providing health care.

1 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

2 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

5 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

6 perimeter   

n.周边，周长，周界

参考例句：

• The river marks the eastern perimeter of our land.这条河标示我们的土地东面的边界。
• Drinks in hands,they wandered around the perimeter of the ball field.他们手里拿着饮料在球场周围漫不经心地遛跶。

7 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

9 barricaded   

设路障于，以障碍物阻塞( barricade的过去式和过去分词 )； 设路障[防御工事]保卫或固守

参考例句：

• The police barricaded the entrance. 警方在入口处设置了路障。
• The doors had been barricaded. 门都被堵住了。

10 intensity   

n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度

参考例句：

• I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
• The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。

11 stringent   

adj.严厉的；令人信服的；银根紧的

参考例句：

• Financiers are calling for a relaxation of these stringent measures.金融家呼吁对这些严厉的措施予以放宽。
• Some of the conditions in the contract are too stringent.合同中有几项条件太苛刻。

12 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

13 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。