Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to end their border clashes following talks in Malaysia. The ceasefire announcement was made by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Monday.
The Malaysian PM said that both the nations have agreed to reach a common ground in order to take steps to end the conflict and return to normalcy. Reading out a joint statement after the talks, Anwar said that Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet have agreed to “an immediate and unconditional ceasefire with effect from… midnight of 28 July.”
The ceasefire talks between the two warring southeast Asian nations were held in Malaysia in order to resolve the border clashes as the deadly conflict entered its fifth day amid mounting international calls for peace. Anwar chaired the talks as head of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional bloc. The meeting was held at his official residence, the Associated Press reported.
The conflict began last Thursday after five Thai soldiers were injured in a landmine explosion along the border. Subsequently, both sides began blaming each other for initiating the clashes, which has since claimed 5 lives and displaced over 2,60,000 people in both nations.
After the clashes flared, both countries recalled their ambassadors, with Thailand shutting all border crossings with Cambodia. An exception was made for migrant Cambodian workers returning home.
Anwar said on Sunday that both Thailand and Cambodia would present their conditions for truce, but stressed “what is important is immediate ceasefire.”
“I hope this can work,” Malaysian national news agency Bernama quoted Anwar as saying. “Although it’s not as bad as many other countries, we have to put a stop (to the violence).”
US President Donald Trump had also pressurised Thailand and Cambodia to end the war and warned that United States may not proceed with trade deals with either country if the clashes continue.
Before departing for ceasefire talks, Phumtham said that the key focus would be on an immediate ceasefire, but highlighted that trust could be an issue, claiming Cambodia had not stopped strikes, AP reported.
“We have informed that we don’t have trust in Cambodia. All they have done reflect that they are not sincere in solving this problem. So they have to show the detail how they will do to prove their sincerity,” he said.
