Bangkok, MINA – A ceasefire agreement between Cambodia and Thailand has held for a second consecutive day, bringing a fragile calm to their disputed border area after nearly three weeks of deadly clashes, defense officials from both nations confirmed on Sunday, Anadolu Agency reported.
The truce, which took effect at noon onp0 Saturday, has resulted in a stable frontline with no reported hostilities, according to Cambodian Ministry of National Defense spokeswoman Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata. Thai military sources also confirmed the violence had subsided, though noting some troop movements in certain areas.
The agreement mandates an immediate halt to all weapon use and prohibits unprovoked fire, troop advances, or movements toward opposing positions. Both sides have pledged to maintain current troop levels and refrain from sending reinforcements to the border to prevent further escalation.
A key provision of the deal states that Thailand will return 18 Cambodian soldiers it has held in custody since July, provided the ceasefire is fully maintained for 72 hours.
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The neighboring Southeast Asian countries have a long history of border disputes that have sporadically erupted into violence. The latest round of fighting, which began on December 8, has been particularly costly. Official figures report at least 99 people killed over the past 20 days, including soldiers and civilians on both sides. The clashes displaced nearly one million civilians living in the border region.
Diplomatic efforts to secure a longer-term resolution are set to continue. The foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand are expected to meet on Monday in a tripartite meeting hosted by China in Yunnan province.[]
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
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