Kuala Lumpur: Thailand and Cambodia on Monday reportedly agreed to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire ending their border clashes. The announcement was made by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, reported Reuters.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that the two south-eastern neighbouring countries agreed for a ceasefire. The talks between the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia were held in Malaysia.
Anwar, who chaired the talks as head of the ASEAN regional bloc, said both sides have reached a common understanding to take steps to return to normalcy.
"Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai have agreed to "an immediate and unconditional ceasefire with effect from... midnight of 28 July," Anwar said as he read out a joint statement.
Hun Manet and Phuntam hailed shook hands at the conclusion of the brief press conference.
The 800-kilometer (500-mile) frontier between Thailand and Cambodia has been disputed for decades. However, past confrontations have been limited. The last major conflict erupted in 2011, leaving 20 dead.
Ealier on Sinday night (local time), US President Donald Trump stated that he was optimistic about brokering the peace deal between the Southeast Asian nations, describing the talks as "an easy one".
"We're dealing with Thailand, and we do a lot of trade with Thailand and with Cambodia, and yet I'm reading that they're killing each other. You know, they're fighting. They're in a war. And I say this should be an easy one for me because I've settled with India and Pakistan and Serbia and Kosovo were going at it," Trump said.
The current tensions broke out in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a confrontation that created a diplomatic rift and roiled Thailand's domestic politics. The matter escalated when a land mine wounded five Thai soldiers on July 23. After the development, Bangkok closed the border and expelled the Cambodian ambassador. The next day, clashes broke out along the border.
Over 30 people were reportedly killed in the clashes.
