Thailand suspends ceasefire with Cambodia after landmine blast injures soldiers, raising new concerns over border tensions. Photo: X.
Thailand has suspended its ceasefire deal with Cambodia following a landmine blast near the border that injured two Thai soldiers. The peace, reached last month through US mediation, is now in doubt as Bangkok accuses Phnom Penh of failing to uphold its end of the agreement.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed the decision after Monday’s explosion in Sisaket province.
“The hostility towards our national security has not decreased as we thought it would,” he said, adding that Thailand will pause all actions under the ceasefire until its demands are met.
According to the Royal Thai Army, one soldier lost his right foot after stepping on a landmine while on patrol, while another soldier suffered chest pain due to the blast’s impact. Both remain under medical treatment.
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Thailand and Cambodia agreed to the truce in Malaysia last month following a five-day border conflict in July that left dozens dead.
Key terms required:
Thailand to release 18 Cambodian soldiers held captive
Both sides to begin removing heavy weapons and clearing landmines from the disputed border zone
Despite this, border tensions have persisted. Similar landmine incidents have been reported both before and after the July clashes, including one in August that injured three Thai soldiers.
Thai Defence Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit said the army is investigating whether the mine involved in the latest blast was old or newly placed. He also confirmed that the planned release of the detained Cambodian soldiers has been postponed.
Thailand has accused Cambodia of laying new mines in violation of the ceasefire. Cambodia denies the allegations, insisting it remains committed to demining efforts and calling on Thailand to proceed with the soldiers’ release.
The ceasefire was originally facilitated by Malaysia, with US President Donald Trump later pressing both nations to finalize the agreement by threatening to withdraw certain trade benefits. The deal was ultimately signed on the sidelines of the Asean Summit in October.
The border tensions stem from overlapping claims along the 817-kilometre frontier, particularly around the Preah Vihear Temple, an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple stands on a ridge marking the border and remains a strongly contested symbol of national pride.
The dispute traces back to early 20th-century French colonial mapping that placed the temple within Cambodian territory, a boundary Thailand has long disputed.
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Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
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