“Immediate and unconditional” ceasefire takes effect from midnight: Anwar

Chair of ASEAN for 2025 and Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, has announced the outcomes of the high-level talks between Thailand and Cambodia, which are currently fighting over their border dispute. And they sound positive

Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim said the meeting, hosted by Malaysia and co-organised by the U.S, with active participation by China, has seen very positive developmental results that would all go well for Cambodia and Thailand and ASEAN. It took about one and a half hours.

Cambodia’s PM Hun Manet and Thailand’s acting PM Phumtham Wechayachai have expressed their positions and willingness for an immediate ceasefire and a return to normalcy.

The U.S. President, Donald Trump he said, has been in contact with the leaders of both countries, urging them to find a peaceful resolution to their conflict. The Chinese side, meanwhile, has kept close contact with Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and relevant countries to actively promote dialogues, a ceasefire, and restoring peace.

The presence and collaboration of all parties underscored shared commitment to peace dialogues and regional stability, PM Anwar noted.

As such, Cambodia and Thailand have reached a common understanding as follows:

1. An immediate and unconditional ceasefire with effect from 24:00 hours local time, midnight on July 28th, or tonight. This is the vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security, PM Anwar noted.

2. To convene an informal meeting of regional commanders, comprising Regional Military One and Two on the Thai side, and Regional Military Four and Five on the Cambodian side, at 07:00 hours on July 29, or tomorrow morning at seven o’clock. It will be followed by a meeting with the Defence Attaches led by the Chair of ASEAN, if both sides are agreeable.

3. To convene a meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) on the fourth of August 2025, to be hosted by Cambodia.

As the Chair of ASEAN, PM Anwar said Malaysia stands ready to coordinate an observation to verify and ensure its implementation, and it will also consult with fellow ASEAN members to participate in the observation efforts, reflecting a regional commitment to supporting peace on the ground.

Both sides also agreed to resume direct communications with their PMs, Foreign Ministers, and Defence Ministers. Their FA and Defence Ministers, Malaysian’s included, have been instructed to develop a detailed mechanism for the implementation, verification, and reporting of this ceasefire mechanism. It will serve as a foundation for sustained peace and accountability, PM Anwar noted.

“The meeting reaffirms the shared resolve of Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand to uphold the principles of international law, peaceful coexistence, and multilateral cooperation in the pursuit of a just and lasting resolution to the situation,” said PM Anwar.

Cambodia’s PM Hun Manet said they had a very good meeting and very good results that they hope to stop immediately the fighting that has caused many lives lost, injuries, and also a lot of displacement of people. Citing the number as provided, he said the total number of evacuees of both countries stands at around 300,000. The ceasefire, he added,  will set a condition for moving forward for the bilateral discussions to return to normalcy of the relationship and as a foundation for future de-escalation of forces.

He thanked PM Anwar for hosting this urgent and timely meeting, as well as his effort and personal initiative to mediate an immediate ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand on July 24. He also extended his deep appreciation to President Donald Trump for his decisive mediation on July 26.

“Cambodia values the efforts of the United States government in organising this crucial meeting and supporting peace. Also, thanks to the government of China for their effort and also participating in this process in order to achieve the outcome.

“Also thank you, PM Phumtham, for the positive role in constructive dialogue that we had today, that is leading to an agreement, which will lead to the stop of fighting immediately, starting from tonight, our engagement between military to military from tomorrow morning, starting with the regional commanders meeting at 7 o’clock in the morning, and also possibilities of engagement after with representatives from Asean attaches led by our Chair, Malaysia, with the approval side after our meeting.

“And also, we will have the GBC meeting with the Ministers, which will set a good platform for more discussion to return to normalcy. I have once again appreciated the outcomes and hope, confidently believe that the result that we have today will provide a lot of opportunities for hundreds of thousands of people on both sides to return to normalcy and the stop of the fighting and time to start rebuilding trust and incorporation going forward,” said PM Hun Manet.

PM Phumtham had also expressed his thanks and appreciation to PM Anwar and President Trump, while stressing that today’s outcomes reflect Thailand’s desire for peaceful resolutions, while continuing the whole protection of the country’s sovereignty and the lives of people.

“We agreed to a ceasefire with assurance myself it will be carried out successfully in good faith by both sides,” said PM Phumtham.

As reported by the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters last night, as of 9 pm, 51 civilians have been affected by the clashes; 14 of them reported as dead, while 8 soldiers died and 103 more were injured. Nearly 140,000 (139, 646) residents in seven border provinces have been evacuated to hundreds of shelters so far.

Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense claimed, as of July 26, that in Oddar Meanchey province, five Cambodian soldiers and eight civilians were killed, and 21 Cambodian soldiers and 50 civilians were injured. Around 35,000 people in four provinces—Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear, Pursat, and Banteay Meanchey—were forced to leave their homes as a result of these attacks.

Also read: UN top official condemns loss of lives and injuries to civilians in Thai-Cambodian border clashes/ Border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia “not a threat to international peace and security”: UNSC / Troop clashes break out as Cambodia opens fire and launches rockets towards Thai forces and civilians