Thailand and Cambodia Extend Peace Pact, A Step Toward Regional Harmony

Border Frontier Truce: Thai‑Cambodian Ceasefire Ordered

Thai Deputy Defence Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit and Cambodian Defence Minister General Tea Seiha officially confirmed a pause in hostilities Thursday, extending a fragile ceasefire that had lapsed amid violent clashes last month.

1. Background of the Conflict

• At least 43 individuals lost their lives after a brief five‑day surge of lethal fighting along the 800‑kilometre (500‑mile) frontier.
• The dispute arose over a handful of temples, whose location remains contested following a 1907 demarcation by French colonial administrators.
• Negotiations were facilitated by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, chair of the ASEAN bloc, with encouragement from U.S. President Donald Trump and a cadre of Chinese mediators.

2. Terms of the Ceasefire

Thai and Cambodian officials pledged a freeze on troop mobilizations and patrols, insisting the truce would cover “all weapons, including attacks on civilians and civilian objects as well as military objectives” across every sector.

The joint statement, signed by Nattaphon Narkphanit and General Tea Seiha, emphasized that any violation of the agreement would be deemed unacceptable under any circumstance.

3. Immediate Effectiveness and Follow‑Up

• During the initial days of the truce, both sides reported isolated skirmishes. However the clashes quickly abated.
• Tea Seiha explained at a press conference that “the steps are life‑saving measures and lay groundwork for restoring confidence, trust, and normalcy between our two countries.”
• Natthaphon Nattaphon underlined that “both sides needed to show cooperation and sincerity” for the discussions to produce concrete results.
• The statement scheduled another meeting within a month and agreed to refrain from disseminating false information or fake news to de‑escalate tensions.

4. Humanitarian Consequences

These recent clashes were the deadliest in the short‑term region in over a decade, forcing more than 300,000 people to flee combat areas on both sides of the border.

5. Summary of the Agreement

• All types of weapons and offenses against civilians and military objectives are banned.
• Both sides agree to freeze troop movements and patrols indefinitely.
• Both sides will adhere to a month‑gap meeting schedule.
• Both sides will refrain from false statements that could incite tensions.