Ceasefire Declared in Thailand–Cambodia Conflict After Diplomatic Push

Shiva K Dhakal
National Press Corporation(NPC)
United Kingdom—Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an immediate ceasefire following nearly three weeks of deadly clashes along their disputed border, the defence ministers of both countries have announced.

Under the agreement, front lines will be frozen at their current positions and civilians displaced by the fighting will be allowed to return home. The ceasefire came into force at noon local time on Saturday and is intended to halt violence that has reportedly killed hundreds of soldiers and forced almost one million people from their homes.

A joint statement said that once the truce has held for 72 hours, Thailand will release 18 Cambodian soldiers it has detained since July. The deal also includes commitments to clear landmines from affected areas.

The breakthrough followed days of negotiations, supported diplomatically by China and the United States. However, Thailand’s Defence Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit warned that the ceasefire would test Cambodia’s sincerity, adding that Thailand reserved the right to self-defence should the agreement be violated.

Previous ceasefire efforts collapsed earlier this month after renewed fighting, with both sides blaming each other. Thailand accused Cambodian forces of opening fire in Si Sa Ket province, while Cambodia said Thai troops launched attacks in Preah Vihear.

Clashes continued throughout December, including Thai air strikes inside Cambodia on Friday. Thailand said the strikes targeted military positions after civilians had left the area, a claim Cambodia rejected, accusing Thailand of indiscriminate attacks on civilian homes.

The border dispute between the two countries dates back more than a century, but tensions escalated this year following incidents at a contested temple site. Analysts warn that strong nationalist sentiment and unresolved grievances could undermine the durability of the latest truce.

Whether the ceasefire holds will depend largely on political will on both sides, as well as the successful return of displaced civilians and implementation of agreed security measures.