Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an “immediate and unconditional” ceasefire from midnight to end deadly border clashes, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced on Monday.
Anwar, who chaired the emergency talks as head of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), said both countries reached a common understanding to take steps toward restoring peace and normalcy along their shared border.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai “have agreed to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire with effect from... midnight of 28 July,” Anwar said as he read out a joint statement following the meeting.
Both leaders hailed the outcome of the talks and shook hands at the conclusion of the brief press conference held at the Malaysian Prime Minister’s official residence in Putrajaya.
Earlier in the day, Hun Manet and Phumtham met in Malaysia in a bid to halt escalating violence that has continued for five days, despite mounting international pressure to end the conflict.
The clashes began last Thursday after a land mine explosion along the border wounded five Thai soldiers. Both sides blamed each other for initiating the violence, which has so far killed at least 35 people and displaced more than 260,000 residents in both countries. In response, Thailand shut all border crossings with Cambodia, except for routes used by Cambodian migrant workers returning home, and both nations recalled their ambassadors.
Despite the high-level talks, troops from both countries continued to exchange fire on Monday. Associated Press reporters in Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province said gunfire could still be heard at dawn in the border town of Samrong.
Maly Socheata, a spokesperson for Cambodia’s defense ministry, said the Thai assault was “ongoing and strong” on Monday.
Anwar, speaking late Sunday, said both sides were expected to present their conditions for peace but stressed, “what is important is immediate ceasefire.”
“I hope this can work,” Anwar told Malaysian national news agency Bernama. “Although it’s not as bad as many other countries, we have to put a stop (to the violence).”
The meeting came amid direct pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who warned that Washington may halt trade deals with both countries if hostilities continue.
Before departing for Kuala Lumpur, Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham said that representatives from China and the United States would attend the talks as observers. He underscored that while the main objective was securing a ceasefire, trust remained a major concern.
“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,” Phumtham told reporters in Bangkok.
