The abrupt suspension of the latest round of peace talks between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia has dealt a serious blow to efforts to reach a peaceful settlement to Latin America's long-running civil war and casts doubt on the viability of Colombian President Andres Pastrana's strategy of pursuing peace with a pen rather than a gun.

Mr. Pastrana made achieving a negotiated settlement to the 35-year-old civil war -- which has cost more than 10,000 lives in the past decade alone -- the centerpiece of his election campaign. Upon taking office in August 1998, he lost little time in attempting to make good on his pledge. By agreeing last November to establish for FARC a "demilitarized zone" free of government forces in an area the size of Switzerland, Mr. Pastrana managed to bring the nation's oldest and largest guerrilla group to the peace table. So far, however, he has little to show in return for his concessions, while the creation of a safe haven -- within which FARC has been acting with impunity -- has considerably strengthened the position of the rebel group.

Negotiations between the Colombian government and FARC were ostensibly postponed from July 7 to July 19 to give rebel leaders time to get to the meeting place. It now appears, however, that FARC was simply buying time to launch its biggest military operation to date -- a July 10 offensive that resulted in the deaths of more than 300 people. There is little doubt that the rebel offensive was an attempt to shore up the guerrilla group's position before talks resumed, and thus it demonstrates in a twisted way FARC's intention to return to the bargaining table. Unfortunately, however, no evidence exists that the latest offensive will be the guerrillas' last, or that the group has the slightest intention of negotiating in good faith. In fact, hardline rebel sources freely admit that FARC simply views political talks as a means to supplement their armed struggle for power.