Hong Kong (Web Desk/Agencies): Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to prolong a fragile ceasefire that was reached after intense clashes erupted along their shared border last month, resulting in the deaths of at least 43 individuals.
The violence, which came to a halt last Tuesday, was triggered by a long-running dispute over ancient temples located near the frontier—an issue that has periodically strained ties between the two neighbours.
The renewed commitment to peace followed diplomatic efforts led by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, currently chairing the ASEAN bloc. His mediation was bolstered by the involvement of US President Donald Trump and a delegation of Chinese negotiators.
These efforts culminated in a formal agreement after three days of discussions between defense officials from both sides, held in Kuala Lumpur.
According to the joint declaration, both governments have pledged to uphold a ceasefire that applies to all categories of weaponry and forbids attacks on civilians, civilian infrastructure, and military targets under any circumstances.
Early days of the truce were marked by mutual accusations of minor violations, but the intensity of the confrontations has since decreased.
In the statement signed by Thai Deputy Defence Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit and Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Seiha, both sides agreed to maintain a freeze on troop deployments and patrol operations near the 800-kilometer border.
Tea Seiha, addressing the media, emphasized that the purpose of the talks was to end the violence and ease the suffering experienced by both soldiers and civilians. He said the measures aim to rebuild trust and bring a return to normalcy in bilateral relations.
The agreement also included a pledge to counter the spread of misinformation and disinformation, which both parties recognized as a risk to the fragile peace. Another round of talks is scheduled to take place within a month to further solidify the arrangements.
The border conflict, rooted in a vague demarcation line drawn by French colonial administrators in 1907, has long fueled nationalist sentiments in both countries.
The recent fighting was the most lethal escalation in over ten years and led to the displacement of more than 300,000 people from border regions.