Ceasefire Holds as Thailand Releases 18 Cambodian Soldiers
In a tangible sign of easing tensions, Thailand has released 18 Cambodian soldiers who had been detained for over five months. The handover, completed at a border checkpoint on Wednesday morning, follows a fragile but holding ceasefire agreement reached over the weekend between the two Southeast Asian neighbors.
The soldiers’ return marks a critical confidence-building measure after a devastating 20-day resurgence of fighting along the border. The recent clashes, which included artillery barrages, rocket fire, and fighter jet sorties, resulted in a tragic human toll, claiming at least 101 lives and displacing over half a million people from their homes on both sides.
Cambodian Defense Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata confirmed the soldiers had spent 155 days in Thai custody. Their release, initially planned for Tuesday, was delayed amid Thai allegations of ceasefire violations—claims which Cambodia denied. The successful handover on Wednesday signals a mutual intent to uphold the new truce, which took effect last Saturday.
This latest round of conflict erupted earlier this month, shattering a previous ceasefire brokered in July by U.S. President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The swift return to violence underscored the deep-seated and complex nature of the border dispute.
The release of the detained soldiers is more than a logistical move; it is a necessary gesture of goodwill. It provides a foundation of trust for the much harder diplomatic work that lies ahead. For the hundreds of thousands of displaced families watching from crowded shelters, and for nations across the region concerned about stability, this act offers a glimmer of hope that the ceasefire may be more durable than the last.
The path to a lasting resolution remains long and fraught with historical grievances. However, the silent guns and the return of these 18 soldiers represent the first, essential steps on that path, proving that even in the aftermath of fierce conflict, diplomacy can begin to mend what war has broken.
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