Thailand launched airstrikes despite agreeing to hold border talks, says Cambodia

Cambodia on Monday accused Thailand of launching airstrikes despite the two sides agreeing at an Asean meeting to hold border talks, according to AFP.

Thailand “deployed F-16 fighter jets to bombard” areas of Siem Reap and Preah Vihear provinces, the news agency quoted Cambodia’s defence ministry as saying.

The Thai government has not yet responded to Cambodia’s allegation.

Earlier in the day, Cambodia and Thailand agreed to hold border talks this week to resolve the ongoing fighting between the two countries.

The latest round of Thailand-Cambodia conflict began on December 8. The fighting has killed at least 43 persons and displaced more than 900,000 people in both the countries.

These clashes are the rooted in a war that began in July that in turn stemmed off tensions simmering since May. Those tensions were the latest flare-up in a decades-long territorial dispute over the trijunction of Thailand, Cambodia and Laos, known as the ‘Emerald Triangle’.

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The disputed area contains several cultural sites of high strategic and symbolic value to Thailand and Cambodia, such as the Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple, that are claimed by both the sides.

Following the July outbreak, US President Donald Trump brokered a truce between the two sides that has now unravelled at least twice.

The breakthrough that never was?

Earlier in the day, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow announced that the two sides will border talks after a meeting with his counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) , according to AFP.

Sihasak said that the discussion would be held on Wednesday in southern Thailand’s Chanthaburi within the framework of an existing bilateral border committee.

Separately, the Thai foreign ministry said the committee would be convened for both nations’ militaries to “discuss implementation, related steps and verification of the ceasefire in detail”.

On its part, Cambodia’s interior ministry said it welcomed the regional efforts to sustain a truce and end hostilities, as per AFP.

“We remain optimistic that the Thai side will demonstrate sincerity in fully implementing the ceasefire in line with ASEAN’s objectives,” the ministry said in a statement.

The Asean meeting was conveyed in Kuala Lumpur where Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan at the beginning urged the two sides and other member-states “give this matter our most urgent attention”.

“We must consider the wider ramifications of the continued escalation of the situation for the people we serve,” said Mohamad, as per AFP.