Thailand, Cambodia agree to 'immediate, unconditional' ceasefire

The breakthrough was announced by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim after hosting peace talks between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand’s acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai in Kuala Lumpur.

The meeting came after the latest armed conflict along the border began last week, which has resulted in the death of many people, including soldiers, on both sides of the disputed border.

Thai and Cambodian military commanders will hold an official meeting early Tuesday.

Officials from the US and China also attended Monday's meeting.

Defense and foreign ministers to oversee implementation of ceasefire

Anwar, also the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), said the ceasefire would be a “vital first step towards de-escalation and restoration of peace and security.”

The defense and foreign ministers of Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia will develop a mechanism for the implementation and verification of the ceasefire towards “sustained peace and accountability," said Anwar.

“This mechanism will serve as a foundation for sustained peace and accountability,” he stressed.

“Malaysia stands ready to coordinate an observer team to verify and ensure implementation” of the ceasefire, he added.

Anwar said Malaysia will consult with its fellow ASEAN members to be part of “supporting peace on the ground.”

Besides agreeing to direct communication between prime ministers, Anwar said Thailand and Cambodia will convene a meeting of the General Border Committee on Aug. 4 to be hosted by Phnom Penh.

Anwar said the Kuala Lumpur meeting reaffirmed the “shared resolve” of Malaysia, Cambodia, and Thailand to “uphold the principles of international law, peaceful coexistence, and multilateral cooperation in the pursuit of a just and lasting solution to the situation.”

The Southeast Asian neighbors have a border dispute along Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province and Thailand's northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani, with renewed tensions since May 28, when a Cambodian soldier was killed.

Thailand and Cambodia saw ties spiral down in recent weeks and tensions escalate to cross-border airstrikes and rocket fire since last Thursday, which have killed many people, including soldiers.​​​​​​​

Tens of hundreds of people have been displaced due to clashes on the two sides of the border.