Properly settling the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia would serve the interests of both countries. It is imperative that the two sides engage in talks to resolve the issue through peaceful dialogue and consultation.

Encouragingly, Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai of Thailand and Prime Minister Hun Manet of Cambodia have now agreed to an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” following peace talks in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who serves as this year’s chair of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, emphasized that the agreement was a vital first step to de-escalation and a restoration of peace and security. The defense and foreign ministers of Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand have been tasked with setting up a “detailed mechanism” for the “implementation, verification and reporting of the ceasefire”.

The border between Thailand and Cambodia has been disputed for decades. But in the past, confrontations have been limited and brief. It........

© The Frontier Post (Editorial)