NEW DELHI: Thailand and Cambodia have officially started high-level border talks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to resolve rising tensions along their disputed boundary. The negotiations, being held from August 4 to 7, come under the General Border Committee (GBC) format and follow a fragile ceasefire agreement reached last week.
The talks are being hosted in Malaysia, which currently chairs ASEAN, after Thailand requested a neutral venue. Cambodia agreed to extend the talks beyond the originally planned one-day session. Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is playing a key role in facilitating the dialogue.
The discussions follow a series of deadly border clashes that erupted on July 24, leaving more than 40 people dead and displacing over 300,000 civilians. Despite a ceasefire taking effect at midnight on July 28, both sides have accused each other of violating the agreement.
Cambodia has alleged that Thai military engineers were deployed into contested areas, while Thailand claims that Cambodian troops moved reinforcements close to the border. These claims have added urgency to the negotiations, which aim to prevent further escalation and restore stability.
Defense officials from both countries are leading the current round of talks, with a ministerial-level meeting scheduled for August 7. Observers from China, the United States, and Malaysia are present to support the process.
The agenda includes the establishment of joint monitoring mechanisms and the return of displaced civilians. Both countries hope to resolve long-standing territorial disputes and reaffirm their commitment to ASEAN unity and regional peace.
