Cease-Fire in Deadly Thailand-Cambodia Conflict Gets Armies’ Backing

Senior commanders from the Thai and Cambodian militaries agreed to de-escalate one of the bloodiest border conflicts between their nations in decades on Tuesday, in meetings that were seen as a crucial test of whether a cease-fire deal reached the previous day would bring a lasting end to the fighting.

The military talks came a day after the civilian leaders of Thailand and Cambodia, meeting in Malaysia, agreed to a cease-fire that was brokered on Monday by President Trump and Malaysia’s prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim. The deal seemed to end, at least for now, days of fighting that killed at least 38 people and displaced hundreds of thousands, although Thailand’s army on Tuesday accused Cambodia of continued attacks.

The military talks were being closely watched because both armies, particularly Thailand’s, are influential political players and were not represented at the discussions in Malaysia.

Both Thailand and Cambodia said their commanders had agreed to immediately stop fighting; to refrain from sending more troops to the border area; to strengthen communication on both sides; and to form a working group to ensure that the cease-fire is fully implemented.

“We agreed not to send more troops. That is the key development,” said Lim Menghour, the director general of Cambodia’s National Assembly, the lower house of the country’s Parliament.

Regional commanders from both sides held talks in three separate meetings. One meeting, between commanders of Thailand’s Second Army Region and Cambodia’s Fourth Military Region, which were involved in the fiercest fighting, was briefly postponed, but officials later confirmed that it had taken place.