'Must not be violated under any circumstances': Thailand-Cambodia extend peace pact; schedule another meeting

Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to extend a fragile ceasefire following last month’s deadly border clashes which left at least 43 people dead and forced over 300,000 to flee. The agreement was formalised Thursday in a joint statement signed by Thai deputy defence minister Nattaphon Narkphanit and his Cambodian counterpart Tea Seiha. Both sides pledged to freeze troop movements and suspend all forms of armed hostilities, including attacks on civilians and military targets.“Both sides agree to a ceasefire involving all types of weapons… in all cases and all areas. This agreement must not be violated under any circumstances,” the statement read, according to AFP. The ceasefire followed five days of intense fighting between Thailand and Cambodia along their disputed 800-kilometre border, where long-standing tensions over ancient temple sites reignited violence. The truce was brokered by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the current ASEAN chair, following talks between US President Donald Trump and the leaders of the two warring countries.Though initial days of the truce saw limited skirmishes and mutual accusations of violations, hostilities have since declined. Thailand and Cambodia have also agreed to meet again within a month and to avoid spreading misinformation that could escalate tensions. The recent clashes were the most severe in the region in over a decade.