Thai and Cambodian leaders to satisfy in Malaysia for talks to finish lethal border dispute : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7409x4939+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc5%2F02%2F3e3934034ce8b0c383f93f4605e6%2Fap25208186252804.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7409x4939+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc5%2F02%2F3e3934034ce8b0c383f93f4605e6%2Fap25208186252804.jpg" class="img" alt="Thai residents who fled homes following clashes between Thai and Cambodian soldiers rest at an evacuation center in Surin province, Thailand, Sunday, July 27, 2025." fetchpriority="high"/> Thai residents who fled houses following clashes between Thai and Cambodian troopers relaxation at an evacuation middle in Surin province, Thailand, Sunday, July 27, 2025. Sakchai Lalit/AP cover caption

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Sakchai Lalit/AP BANGKOK — Thai and Cambodian leaders will meet in Malaysia for talks to finish hostilities, a spokesperson for the Thai prime minister's workplace stated on Sunday. This comes following strain from U.S. President Donald Trump to finish a lethal border dispute, now in its fourth day, which has killed at the very least 34 individuals and displaced greater than 168,000.

Jirayu Huangsap stated Performing Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai will attend Monday's talks in response to an invite from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim "to debate peace efforts within the area."

The spokesperson additionally stated Phumtham's Cambodian counterpart Hun Manet will even attend the talks, although this was not instantly confirmed by the Cambodian facet. He added that Anwar was appearing in his capability as chair of the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, held on an annual rotating foundation by its 10 members.

Trump posted on Fact Social on Saturday that he spoke to the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia and advised he wouldn't transfer ahead with commerce agreements with both nation if the hostilities continued. He later stated each side agreed to satisfy to barter a ceasefire.

Each side agree to debate a ceasefire Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet stated earlier Sunday his nation agreed to pursue an "fast and unconditional ceasefire." He stated Trump informed him that Thailand had additionally agreed to halt assaults following the U.S. president's dialog with Phumtham.

He stated he tasked his deputy, International Minister Prak Sokhonn, to coordinate subsequent steps with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and to have interaction straight with Thailand's overseas minister to implement the ceasefire.

Thailand expressed cautious assist. Phumtham thanked Trump and stated that Thailand agreed in precept to a ceasefire however harassed the necessity for "honest intention" from Cambodia, the Thai International Ministry stated. Phumtham referred to as for swift bilateral talks to debate concrete steps towards a peaceable decision, it stated.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7515x5010+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2F20%2F67e49f5c4de38c4f379f7eb154af%2Fap25208369844837.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/7515x5010+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0d%2F20%2F67e49f5c4de38c4f379f7eb154af%2Fap25208369844837.jpg" class="img" alt="A house is seen damaged after Cambodia fired artillery shells in Surin Province, Thailand, Sunday, July 27, 2025." loading="lazy"/> A home is seen broken after Cambodia fired artillery shells in Surin Province, Thailand, Sunday, July 27, 2025. Sakchai Lalit/AP cover caption

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Sakchai Lalit/AP Each side blame the opposite for the clashes The preventing flared Thursday after a land mine explosion alongside the border wounded 5 Thai troopers. Each side blamed one another for beginning the clashes. Each nations recalled their ambassadors and Thailand closed its border crossings with Cambodia.

Regardless of the diplomatic efforts, preventing continued Sunday alongside elements of the contested border, with each side refusing to budge and buying and selling blame over renewed shelling and troop actions.

Col. Richa Suksowanont, a Thai military deputy spokesperson, stated Cambodian forces fired heavy artillery into Surin province, together with at civilian houses, early Sunday. He stated Cambodia additionally launched rocket assaults focusing on the traditional Ta Muen Thom temple, claimed by each nations, and different areas in a bid to reclaim territory secured by Thai troops. Thai forces responded with long-range artillery to strike Cambodian artillery and rocket launchers.

Richa stated Trump's efforts to mediate had been a "separate matter." The battlefield operations will proceed and a ceasefire can solely occur if Cambodia formally initiates negotiations, he added.

"Any cessation of hostilities can't be reached whereas Cambodia is severely missing in good religion and repeatedly violating the essential rules of human rights and humanitarian legislation," Thailand's International Ministry stated individually.

Cambodian Protection Ministry spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata accused Thai forces of escalating the violence with bombardment of Cambodian territory early Sunday, adopted by a "large-scale incursion" involving tanks and floor troops in a number of areas.

"Such actions undermine all efforts towards peaceable decision and expose Thailand's clear intent to escalate somewhat than de-escalate the battle," she stated.

Thailand on Sunday reported a brand new demise of a soldier, bringing the entire variety of fatalities to 21, principally civilians. Cambodia stated 13 individuals have been killed. Greater than 131,000 individuals in Thailand have evacuated to protected areas and over 37,000 individuals fled from three Cambodian provinces. Many border villages are principally abandoned, with many faculties and hospitals shut.

Evacuees hope for a swift finish to the preventing Pichayut Surasit, an air-conditioning technician in Thailand, stated the sudden outbreak of preventing meant leaving his work in Bangkok to return residence to guard his household.

"I did not have the guts to proceed with my work after I heard the information. I wished to come back again as quickly as attainable, however I needed to wait till the night," he stated. Now at a shelter in Surin housing some 6,000 evacuees, Pichayut worries for his spouse and twin daughters, hoping the battle will finish quickly to allow them to return to their residence in Kap Choeng district, one of many hardest hit by shelling.

Bualee Chanduang, an area vendor who moved to the identical shelter Thursday together with her household and pet rabbit, is relying on swift negotiations to finish the violence. "I pray for God to assist in order that each side can agree to speak and finish this struggle," she stated.

The U.N. Safety Council has referred to as on ASEAN, a regional bloc, to mediate peace between the 2 members. Human Rights Watch has condemned the reported use of cluster munitions, weapons banned by Worldwide legislation, in populated areas, and urged each governments to guard civilians.

The 800-kilometer (500-mile) frontier between Thailand and Cambodia has been disputed for many years, however previous confrontations have been restricted and transient. The newest tensions erupted in Could when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a confrontation that created a diplomatic rift and roiled Thailand's home politics.