ASEAN to Oversee Thai-Cambodian Ceasefire Amid Ongoing Tensions

Cambodia and Thailand have consented to allow the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to observe their ceasefire, aimed at halting hostilities in a contested border region, according to local reports. The ceasefire was agreed upon at the end of July after violent clashes disrupted the area.

An interim observer team, led by a Malaysian defense attache and comprising defense attaches from various ASEAN countries, will be dispatched to monitor the ceasefire along the Thai-Cambodian border. This development emerged following four days of peace talks held in Malaysia, the current chair of ASEAN, between Thailand's Acting Defense Minister, Nattaphon Narkphanit, and his Cambodian counterpart, Tea Seiha.

Despite the mutual agreement, both countries continue to hold each other accountable for cross-border hostilities that previously resulted in numerous fatalities. The situation has been volatile due to a long-standing dispute over their 817km undemarcated border, which was recently exacerbated by a landmine incident. Economic pressure from the United States has also played a role in mitigating tensions, with a reduction in tariffs on Thai and Cambodian goods being announced by Washington this month.

(With inputs from agencies.)