This week, Colombia suspends peace talks with ELN after attack. Blinken seeks Gaza ceasefire amidst escalating tensions. Pakistan looks to boost regional peace through friendly relations with Bangladesh.
Colombia suspends peace talks with ELN after attack
Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced the suspension of peace negotiations with the National Liberation Army (ELN) following a violent attack on a military base in Arauca province, which resulted in two soldiers dead and over 20 injured. Petro condemned the attack, asserting it “practically closes a peace process, with blood.” The ELN, the largest remaining rebel group in Colombia, had been in peace talks since late 2022 as part of Petro’s “total peace” initiative, aimed at resolving the country’s six-decade conflict. However, the ceasefire expired in August, leading to an increase in ELN attacks.
The government criticized the ELN for ongoing violence, including kidnappings and civilian extortion, while the group accused the government of not fulfilling previous agreements. The halt in negotiations marks a significant setback for Petro’s peace agenda and may result in renewed military operations against the ELN, as the government plans to reissue arrest warrants for the group’s leaders believed to be operating from Venezuela and Cuba.
Blinken seeks Gaza ceasefire amid escalating tensions
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday traveled to Cairo to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza, amidst rising tensions following deadly blasts in Lebanon linked to Hezbollah. This marks Blinken’s 10th visit to the Middle East since the war began, but notably, he did not stop in Israel, reflecting a perceived deadlock in negotiations.
During his discussions with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Blinken aimed to focus on U.S.-Egypt relations while pressing for a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Despite hopes for progress, U.S. officials expressed skepticism about immediate breakthroughs, citing key sticking points such as the Philadelphi corridor and the release of Palestinian prisoners.
The backdrop of escalating violence, including Hezbollah’s threats of retaliation against Israel, complicates diplomatic efforts. Blinken emphasized the need for restraint from all parties to prevent further conflict escalation. While both sides have tentatively agreed on many terms of a ceasefire, political will remains the primary barrier to reaching a finalized agreement, he said. Following his Cairo visit, Blinken planned to meet with European counterparts in Paris to discuss broader Middle Eastern issues.
Pakistan looks to boost regional peace through friendly relations with Bangladesh
Pakistan is looking to improve regional peace through friendly relations with Bangladesh, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said on Thursday. This development comes after Bangladesh’s interim government recently said that it wants to resolve ongoing issues with Pakistan.
Pakistani Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said at a weekly press briefing that there was a “immense goodwill” in Pakistan for Bangladesh, and that Pakistan wanted relations between the two countries to thrive. She added that Bangladesh was an important partner for Pakistan in South Asia, and that cooperation between the two countries would “contribute to the development of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation as a positive and robust institution.”
Bangladesh and Pakistan were originally founded as one nation in 1947, however, Bangladesh won liberation from then-West Pakistan in 1971. Relations between the two countries continued to worsen during former PM Sheikh Hasina’s administration, which prosecuted several members of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) party for war crimes relating to the 1971 conflict.
Nahid Islam, a minister in Bangladesh’s interim government, said in a recent meeting with Pakistan’s envoy to Dhaka that Bangladesh wishes to address “unresolved issues” and strengthen relations Pakistan for a “more democratic South Asia.”
This news comes after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India amid widespread protests. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who was chosen by student leaders, the military, and the president, has urged Bangladeshis to avoid violence and work towards national stability.
Tara Abhasakun
Tara Abhasakun is a journalist in Bangkok. She has reported on a range of human rights issues involving youth protests in Thailand, as well as arts and culture. Tara's work has appeared in several outlets, including Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.
