Thailand, Cambodia Agree To Ceasefire After Deadly Border Clashes

Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an immediate ceasefire following nearly three weeks of deadly border clashes that left dozens of people dead and displaced close to one million people.

In a joint statement on Saturday, the defence ministers of both countries confirmed that the ceasefire took effect at noon local time (05:00 GMT).

Under the agreement, both sides will maintain their current positions on the front lines and allow displaced civilians in border communities to return to their homes.

The statement also said 18 Cambodian soldiers detained by Thailand since July will be released once the ceasefire holds for 72 hours. Both countries further agreed to begin the removal of landmines in the affected areas.

Thailand’s Defence Minister, Natthaphon Narkphanit, described the ceasefire as a test of Cambodia’s commitment to peace, warning that Thailand would exercise its right to self-defence under international law if the agreement is violated.

The breakthrough followed days of negotiations with diplomatic backing from China and the United States.

However, Thailand had earlier expressed scepticism about another ceasefire, citing the collapse of a previous truce and accusing Cambodia of attempting to internationalise the conflict.

Fighting had intensified throughout December, with both sides trading accusations over ceasefire violations. Thailand confirmed carrying out air strikes inside Cambodia on Friday, while Cambodia described the attacks as indiscriminate and targeting civilian areas.

The border dispute between the two South-East Asian neighbours dates back more than a century, but escalated earlier this year after tensions flared around a disputed temple site.

Previous ceasefire efforts, including one brokered in October, collapsed after renewed violence and landmine incidents.

Observers say the durability of the latest ceasefire will depend largely on political will, amid heightened nationalist sentiments and deep grievances on both sides.