A pagoda broken by Thai artillery is pictured in Oddar Meanchey province on July 25, 2025. Thailand’s appearing Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai warned on July 25 that cross-border clashes with Cambodia which have uprooted greater than 130,000 individuals “might turn into warfare”, because the nations traded lethal strikes for a second day. (Photograph by AFP)
BANGKOK (AP) — Thai and Cambodian leaders will meet in Malaysia for talks to finish hostilities, a spokesperson for the Thai prime minister’s workplace stated on Sunday. This comes following strain from U.S. President Donald Trump to finish a lethal border dispute, now in its fourth day, which has killed at the least 34 individuals and displaced greater than 168,000.
Jirayu Huangsap stated Appearing Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai will attend Monday’s talks in response to an invite from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim “to debate peace efforts within the area.”
The spokesperson additionally stated Phumtham’s Cambodian counterpart Hun Manet may even attend the talks, although this was not instantly confirmed by the Cambodian aspect. He added that Anwar was appearing in his capability as chair of the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, held on an annual rotating foundation by its 10 members.
READ: Thailand, Cambodia conflict regardless of ceasefire hopes
Trump posted on Reality Social on Saturday that he spoke to the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia and instructed he wouldn’t transfer ahead with commerce agreements with both nation if the hostilities continued. He later stated either side agreed to satisfy to barter a ceasefire.
Either side agree to debate a ceasefire
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet stated earlier Sunday his nation agreed to pursue an “fast and unconditional ceasefire.” He stated Trump advised him that Thailand had additionally agreed to halt assaults following the U.S. president’s dialog with Phumtham.
He stated he tasked his deputy, Overseas Minister Prak Sokhonn, to coordinate subsequent steps with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and to have interaction immediately with Thailand’s international minister to implement the ceasefire.
Thailand expressed cautious help. Phumtham thanked Trump and stated that Thailand agreed in precept to a ceasefire however burdened the necessity for “honest intention” from Cambodia, the Thai Overseas Ministry stated. Phumtham referred to as for swift bilateral talks to debate concrete steps towards a peaceable decision, it stated.
Either side blame the opposite for the clashes
The combating flared Thursday after a land mine explosion alongside the border wounded 5 Thai troopers. Either side blamed one another for beginning the clashes. Each nations recalled their ambassadors and Thailand closed its border crossings with Cambodia.
Regardless of the diplomatic efforts, combating continued Sunday alongside components of the contested border, with either side refusing to budge and buying and selling blame over renewed shelling and troop actions.
Col. Richa Suksowanont, a Thai military deputy spokesperson, stated Cambodian forces fired heavy artillery into Surin province, together with at civilian properties, early Sunday. He stated Cambodia additionally launched rocket assaults concentrating on the traditional Ta Muen Thom temple, claimed by each nations, and different areas in a bid to reclaim territory secured by Thai troops. Thai forces responded with long-range artillery to strike Cambodian artillery and rocket launchers.
Richa stated Trump’s efforts to mediate have been a “separate matter.” The battlefield operations will proceed and a ceasefire can solely occur if Cambodia formally initiates negotiations, he added.
“Any cessation of hostilities can’t be reached whereas Cambodia is severely missing in good religion and repeatedly violating the fundamental ideas of human rights and humanitarian regulation,” Thailand’s Overseas Ministry stated individually.
Cambodian Protection Ministry spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata accused Thai forces of escalating the violence with bombardment of Cambodian territory early Sunday, adopted by a “large-scale incursion” involving tanks and floor troops in a number of areas.
“Such actions undermine all efforts towards peaceable decision and expose Thailand’s clear intent to escalate moderately than de-escalate the battle,” she stated.
Thailand on Sunday reported a brand new dying of a soldier, bringing the overall variety of fatalities to 21, largely civilians. Cambodia stated 13 individuals have been killed. Greater than 131,000 individuals in Thailand have evacuated to secure places and over 37,000 individuals fled from three Cambodian provinces. Many border villages are largely abandoned, with many colleges and hospitals shut.
Evacuees hope for a swift finish to the combating
Pichayut Surasit, an air-conditioning technician in Thailand, stated the sudden outbreak of combating meant leaving his work in Bangkok to return dwelling to guard his household.
“I didn’t have the guts to proceed with my work once I heard the information. I needed to return again as quickly as doable, however I needed to wait till the night,” he stated. Now at a shelter in Surin housing some 6,000 evacuees, Pichayut worries for his spouse and twin daughters, hoping the battle will finish quickly to allow them to return to their dwelling in Kap Choeng district, one of many hardest hit by shelling.
Bualee Chanduang, a neighborhood vendor who moved to the identical shelter Thursday along with her household and pet rabbit, is relying on swift negotiations to finish the violence. “I pray for God to assist in order that either side can agree to speak and finish this warfare,” she stated.
The U.N. Safety Council has referred to as on ASEAN, a regional bloc, to mediate peace between the 2 members. Human Rights Watch has condemned the reported use of cluster munitions, weapons banned by Worldwide regulation, in populated areas, and urged each governments to guard civilians.
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The 800-kilometer (500-mile) frontier between Thailand and Cambodia has been disputed for many years, however previous confrontations have been restricted and temporary. The most recent tensions erupted in Could when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a confrontation that created a diplomatic rift and roiled Thailand’s home politics.
