Cambodia and Thailand begin talks in Malaysia amid fragile ceasefire

Preliminary discussions between Thai and Cambodian defence officials began on Monday in Malaysia, setting the stage for a high-level ministerial meeting scheduled for Thursday, as a fragile ceasefire continues to hold following last week's border clashes.

The truce, brokered after five days of intense fighting, was agreed upon in Malaysia with observers from the United States and China. It marked the worst violence between the two Southeast Asian nations in over ten years, involving artillery exchanges and airstrikes that killed at least 43 people and displaced more than 300,000 civilians on both sides of the border.

Defence ministers from both countries are expected to convene a General Border Committee meeting on Thursday to address ways to uphold the ceasefire, according to officials from both nations. The session will also be observed by delegates from the U.S., China, and Malaysia.

Despite ongoing dialogue, mistrust remains. Cambodia’s defence ministry accused Thailand of breaching the ceasefire by deploying excavators and installing barbed wire in disputed territory.

Thailand, however, stated that both sides are largely holding their ground with no major troop movements. Thai military spokesperson Rear Admiral Surasant Kongsiri noted that Cambodia had reportedly fortified its positions and replaced troops lost during the conflict.

Cambodia also demanded the immediate release of 18 soldiers captured by Thailand. In response, Thai authorities confirmed the soldiers are being treated as “prisoners of war” and will be released once there is a full end to hostilities, not merely a ceasefire.

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