PUTRAJAYA: Thailand and Cambodia’s leaders agreed to an “unconditional” ceasefire on Monday, after five days of combat along their jungle-clad frontier that has killed at least 36 people.

Nearly 300,000 people have fled as the two sides fired artillery, rockets and guns in a battle over the long-disputed area, which is home to a smattering of ancient temples.

The flare-up was the deadliest since violence raged sporadically from 2008-2011 over the territory, claimed by both sides because of a vague demarcation made by Cambodia’s French colonial administrators in 1907.

Reading a joint statement from the leaders of both countries after peace talks, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said they had agreed “an immediate and unconditional ceasefire” with effect from midnight on Monday.

“This is a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security,” he said at a press conference in Malaysia’s administrative capital Putrajaya, flanked by Thai acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet.

Anwar said a meeting of military commanders from both sides would take place on Tuesday morning, before the countries’ cross-border committee would meet in Cambodia on Aug 4.

As the deal was being announced, a journalist in the Cambodian city of Samraong — 17 kilometres from the fraught frontier — reported hearing continuing artillery blasts.

But locals expressed relief that a truce had been struck.

“I am very happy with the ceasefire. This will let people go back home and children go back to school,” 48-year-old Cambodian vendor Soeung Chhivling said. “Please stop the clashes.”

‘Very good results’

US President Donald Trump — who both nations are courting for trade deals to avert the threat of eye-watering tariffs — intervened over the weekend, and said both sides had agreed to “quickly work out” a truce.

“Today we had a very good meeting and very good results,” said Cambodia’s Hun Manet, thanking Trump for his “decisive” support and saying the truce would serve as “a foundation for future de-escalation”.

Ahead of the summit, Thailand and Cambodia had traded fresh fire and barbed accusations. Cambodia’s defence ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata said it was “the fifth day that Thailand has invaded Cambodia’s territory with heavy weapons and with the deployment of a lot of troops”.

And as he departed Bangkok airport, Phumtham told reporters he did not believe Cambodia was “acting in good faith”. After the talks hosted by Anwar — chair of the Asean bloc of which both Thailand and Cambodia are members — Phumtham called for the truce to be “carried out in good faith by both sides”.

“Thailand decides for peaceful resolution, while continuing to protect our sovereignty and the lives of our people,” he said.

‘Highly tense’

On the eve of the talks, Thailand’s military said Cambodian snipers were camped in one of the contested temples, and accused Phnom Penh of surging troops along the border and hammering Thai territory with rockets.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2025