Thailand-Cambodia Ceasefire Holds but Prisoner Release Was Delayed Over Alleged Violations
A fragile truce has endured beyond its first milestone, yet Bangkok cited suspected breaches before returning captured Cambodian soldiers
A renewed ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia has held for more than seventy-two hours — the initial sustainability threshold agreed by both sides — but the scheduled release of eighteen Cambodian prisoners of war was temporarily postponed amid allegations of violations.
The truce, which took effect at midday on Saturday following weeks of intense border clashes that claimed at least one hundred and one lives and displaced hundreds of thousands, was intended to halt hostilities and create conditions for lasting peace after previous attempts had collapsed.
Under the terms of the agreement, Thailand committed to repatriate the Cambodian soldiers once the ceasefire passed the seventy-two-hour mark.
However, Bangkok announced a delay, citing reported incursions of more than two hundred and fifty drones crossing from Cambodian territory late Sunday as a breach of the pact.
Thai officials said that the timing of the handover would depend on security considerations, signalling caution in implementing conditional terms tied to trust and compliance.
Cambodia’s government strongly denied the drone accusations and responded by banning drone use nationwide, and denied any breach of the ceasefire.
The Thai Foreign Ministry also lodged a formal protest after a Thai soldier was injured by a landmine near the disputed frontier, an incident that underscored the fragility of peace along one of Southeast Asia’s longest contested borders.
Cambodian spokespeople said they were monitoring developments and had not yet responded to the delay in the soldiers’ repatriation.
Dialogue facilitated by China and other regional partners aims to rebuild mutual confidence and ensure both sides adhere to the truce’s terms while addressing security concerns on the ground.
The clashes earlier this month reignited longstanding territorial disputes stretching back decades, and the latest ceasefire followed diplomatic efforts to revive peace after an earlier deal faltered.
Thai and Cambodian leaders have expressed cautious optimism, but the delay in the planned repatriation illustrates the challenges of translating diplomatic agreements into reality amid mistrust and sporadic tensions along the border.
The truce, which took effect at midday on Saturday following weeks of intense border clashes that claimed at least one hundred and one lives and displaced hundreds of thousands, was intended to halt hostilities and create conditions for lasting peace after previous attempts had collapsed.
Under the terms of the agreement, Thailand committed to repatriate the Cambodian soldiers once the ceasefire passed the seventy-two-hour mark.
However, Bangkok announced a delay, citing reported incursions of more than two hundred and fifty drones crossing from Cambodian territory late Sunday as a breach of the pact.
Thai officials said that the timing of the handover would depend on security considerations, signalling caution in implementing conditional terms tied to trust and compliance.
Cambodia’s government strongly denied the drone accusations and responded by banning drone use nationwide, and denied any breach of the ceasefire.
The Thai Foreign Ministry also lodged a formal protest after a Thai soldier was injured by a landmine near the disputed frontier, an incident that underscored the fragility of peace along one of Southeast Asia’s longest contested borders.
Cambodian spokespeople said they were monitoring developments and had not yet responded to the delay in the soldiers’ repatriation.
Dialogue facilitated by China and other regional partners aims to rebuild mutual confidence and ensure both sides adhere to the truce’s terms while addressing security concerns on the ground.
The clashes earlier this month reignited longstanding territorial disputes stretching back decades, and the latest ceasefire followed diplomatic efforts to revive peace after an earlier deal faltered.
Thai and Cambodian leaders have expressed cautious optimism, but the delay in the planned repatriation illustrates the challenges of translating diplomatic agreements into reality amid mistrust and sporadic tensions along the border.
