Military delegations from Thailand and Cambodia convened a preliminary meeting at a Thai border area on Wednesday to prepare for formal ceasefire talks, as cross-border hostilities continued and both sides reported mounting civilian casualties.
The session, held at the Thai side of the border in Chanthaburi province, was a secretariat-level meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC). The Cambodian delegation arrived at the Ban Phak Kat checkpoint around 16:25 local time for a half-hour discussion aimed at setting the agenda for a full-delegation meeting scheduled for Thursday.
Thai Defense Ministry Spokesman Surasant Kongsiri said earlier on Wednesday that the secretariat-level meeting would take place from Wednesday to Friday.
If these preliminary discussions proceed smoothly, the talks will be followed by a meeting between the defense ministers of both nations on Saturday, the spokesman told a press briefing.
The diplomatic efforts unfolded against a backdrop of intensified conflict between the two neighboring Southeast Asian countries.
Cambodia's Minister of Information Neth Pheaktra said in a social media post on Wednesday night that Thai military actions have resulted in the deaths of 30 Cambodian civilians, with 87 others injured so far.
On the same day, the Thai military reported its own losses of 23 soldiers and 42 civilians, while also confirming airstrikes on targets it described as Cambodian military bases.
A key point of contention emerged as Cambodia accused Thailand of using cluster munitions in civilian areas, an allegation Thai officials denied, stating the weapons were used strictly against military targets, and noting that neither country is bound by the international convention banning such munitions.
Thailand, Cambodia hold preliminary talks amid ongoing border conflict
Thailand, Cambodia hold preliminary talks amid ongoing border conflict
