Bangkok, 28 July 2025 (dpa/MIA) - The premiers of Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to implement an immediate ceasefire following days of deadly border clashes, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Monday after hosting talks between the two nations.

The "immediate and unconditional ceasefire" is set to take effect at midnight (1700 GMT), Anwar said. It was agreed upon at a special meeting between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thai interim Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai in the Malaysian administrative capital Putrajaya.

Representatives from the United Sates and China also participated in the talks.

In a joint statement, the ceasefire was described as "a vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security."

Military leaders from both countries are expected to meet for talks on Tuesday.

A meeting of the General Border Committee, a bilateral body for cooperation on border issues, is planned for August 4.

Both sides also expressed their willingness to resume direct communication between their governments.

Heavy fighting erupted between the two neighbouring countries on Thursday along their more than 800-kilometre border. The conflict has been simmering for decades.

Both sides have reported casualties and injuries, and more than 200,000 people have fled the region. Overnight, heavy fighting was reported again.

What exactly triggered the escalation remains unclear.

International pressure

International pressure on Bangkok and Phnom Penh to end the fighting had been growing ahead of the meeting, with US President Donald Trump holding phone calls with both premiers to push for an end to the conflict.

Shortly before the talks, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for an "immediate ceasefire" on X.

Malaysia as mediator

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar had already spoken with his counterparts from Thailand and Cambodia shortly after the fighting began and offered himself as a mediator.

Malaysia holds the chair of Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year.

Since the beginning of the clashes, both sides have accused each other of triggering the violence.

Civilian buildings, including a hospital and a supermarket, were also hit in the attacks. Thailand used fighter jets to target military positions, while Cambodia fired rockets across the border.

The dispute further escalated after a shootout between soldiers from both countries at the end of May, in which a Cambodian soldier was killed.

Recently, Cambodia's Ministry of Defence accused Thailand of also using chemical weapons. The Foreign Ministry in Bangkok denied this, calling them "baseless accusations" and "disinformation" aimed at deliberately undermining Thailand's reputation in the international community.

Trump demands ceasefire

Trump had already spoken with both prime ministers on Saturday and then wrote on the platform Truth Social: "They have agreed to meet immediately and quickly work out a ceasefire and ultimately PEACE!"

He added that there would be no negotiations regarding his threatened tariffs as long as both states continued fighting. Trump had previously announced plans to impose tariffs of 36% on the two countries at the beginning of August.

Meanwhile, the number of Cambodians living in Thailand who want to return home is increasing. According to the Ministry of Defence in Phnom Penh, more than 400,000 migrant workers have already crossed the border because they no longer feel safe in Thailand. Many more are likely to follow.

King cancels birthday celebrations

Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn had earlier cancelled the official celebrations for his 73rd birthday as a result of the conflict, broadcaster Thai PBS reported. The celebrations were supposed to last until Tuesday.

The decision was made because "the government, the military, and all sectors of society must focus their efforts on protecting national sovereignty, defending the country, and ensuring the safety of the population" in light of the ongoing border conflicts, the report said.

Photo: epa