Cambodia calls for ceasefire with Thailand after deadly clashes
Ongoing dispute
(You can now subscribe to our
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel
Cambodia wants an "immediate ceasefire" with Thailand, the country's envoy to the United Nations said Friday, after the neighbors traded deadly strikes for a second day, with Bangkok also signaling an openness to talks.A long-running border dispute erupted into intense fighting with jets, artillery, tanks and ground troops on Thursday, prompting the UN Security Council to hold an emergency meeting on the crisis Friday."Cambodia asked for an immediate ceasefire -- unconditionally -- and we also call for the peaceful solution of the dispute," said Phnom Penh's UN ambassador Chhea Keo following a closed meeting of the Council attended by Cambodia and Thailand.A steady thump of artillery strikes could be heard from the Cambodian side of the border Friday, where the province of Oddar Meanchey reported one civilian -- a 70-year-old man -- had been killed and five more wounded.More than 138,000 people have been evacuated from Thailand's border regions, its health ministry said, reporting 15 fatalities -- 14 civilians and a soldier -- with a further 46 wounded, including 15 troops.Fighting resumed in three areas around 4 am on Friday (2100 GMT Thursday), the Thai army said, with Cambodian forces firing heavy weapons, field artillery, and BM-21 rocket systems, and Thai troops responding "with appropriate supporting fire."Thai Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nikorndej Balankura told AFP that fighting had begun to ease off by Friday afternoon, however, adding that Bangkok was open to talks, possibly aided by Malaysia."We are ready, if Cambodia would like to settle this matter via diplomatic channels, bilaterally, or even through Malaysia, we are ready to do that. But so far we have not had any response," Nikorndej told AFP, speaking before the UN meeting had been held.Malaysia currently holds the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional bloc, of which Thailand and Cambodia are both members.Earlier, acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai had warned that if the situation escalated, "it could develop into war.""For now, it remains limited to clashes," he told reporters in Bangkok.Both sides blamed each other for firing first, while Thailand accused Cambodia of targeting civilian infrastructure, including a hospital hit by shells and a petrol station hit by at least one rocket.At the UN, Cambodia's envoy questioned Thailand's assertion that his country, which is smaller and less militarily developed than its neighbor, had initiated the conflict."(The Security Council) called for both parties to (show) maximum restraint and resort to a diplomatic solution. That is what we are calling for as well," said Chhea Keo.None of the other attendees of the UNSC meeting spoke to reporters.The fighting marks a dramatic escalation in a long-running dispute between the neighbors -- both popular destinations for millions of foreign tourists -- over their shared 800-kilometer (500-mile) border.Dozens of kilometers in several areas are contested and fighting broke out between 2008 and 2011, leaving at least 28 people dead and tens of thousands displaced.A UN court ruling in 2013 settled the matter for over a decade, but the current crisis erupted in May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a new clash.- 'We are scared' -Fighting on Thursday was focused on six locations, according to the Thai army, including around two ancient temples.Ground troops backed up by tanks battled for control of territory, while Cambodia fired rockets and shells into Thailand and the Thais scrambled F-16 jets to hit military targets across the border.In the Cambodian town of Samraong, 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the border, AFP journalists saw families speeding away in vehicles with their children and belongings as gunfire erupted."I live very close to the border. We are scared," Pro Bak, 41, told AFP.He was taking his wife and children to a Buddhist temple to seek refuge.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
Canada could join UK, France in recognising Palestine: The significance
Canada announced on Wednesday (July 30) that it would formally recognise Palestine in the United Nations General Assembly in September. The statement comes after Britain made a similar announcement on July 29, with its recognition conditional on a ceasefire. France and Malta have also said it will recognise Palestine. Palestine is facing a severe humanitarian crisis that has led to massive starvation. Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney has blamed this on Israel's refusal to give international organisations control of aid in Gaza. UK's Keir Starmer, meanwhile, said the UK would support Palestinian statehood in September unless Israel halts its military campaign, abandons annexation plans in the West Bank, and engages in peace efforts to establish a two-state solution. This decision marks a major shift in UK foreign policy. Israeli ambassador to Canada, Iddo Moed, strongly criticised Canada's position, saying that it is 'rewarding terrorists'. As many as 147 out of 193 UN member countries recognise the state of Palestine at present. The 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) will open on September 9, in the US. What does achieving statehood do for Palestine? We explain. For Palestine, achieving statehood would mean international recognition as an independent and sovereign country. Currently, Palestine holds the status of a 'Permanent Observer State' at the United Nations. This allows Palestine to participate in debates and UN sessions but not to vote on resolutions. To become a full UN Member State, Palestine would need a recommendation from the UN Security Council, followed by a two-thirds majority vote in the General Assembly. However, any of the five permanent members (P5) of the Security Council (US, UK, France, Russia, and China) can veto the application. A US veto blocked Palestine's last bid for full UN membership in April 2024. While the 2012 upgrade to observer status was seen as progress, full recognition would give Palestine greater diplomatic and legal standing in international affairs and further its pursuit of a two-state solution. As of March 2025, 147 out of the 193 UN member states (roughly 75%) recognise the State of Palestine. The recognition movement gained momentum following the intensification of the situation in Gaza and growing international outrage over the humanitarian crisis. In 2024, a group of UN experts urged all member nations to recognise Palestine in a bid to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza. This had come a week after Spain, Norway, and Ireland recognised Palestine. Most nations in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East (including India) have long recognised Palestine. In contrast, several Western countries have not. The United States, Japan, South Korea, and Australia are among those that still withhold formal recognition. In Europe, while France and the UK recently announced they will recognise Palestine in September in hopes of promoting peace, countries like Belgium and Germany are yet to do so. In a post on X, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to the U.K.'s decision, saying: 'Starmer rewards Hamas's monstrous terrorism & punishes its victims.' Despite this opposition, the growing number of recognitions signals a shift in global opinion, with many countries increasingly aligning with the call for Palestinian statehood as a step toward resolving the conflict. The UK's decision to recognise Palestine as a state holds immense political and symbolic importance as it marks a significant shift in British foreign policy. The UK would become the second G7 nation (after France) to recognise Palestine, followed by Canada being the third, putting additional diplomatic pressure on Israel. The timing also matters. The announcement comes in the wake of public outrage over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with images of starving children sparking global condemnation. By linking statehood recognition to a ceasefire and progress toward peace, the UK is using its diplomatic clout to incentivise negotiations. Britain's historical role adds further weight to this decision. The 1917 Balfour Declaration, in which Britain supported the establishment of a 'national home for the Jewish people' in Palestine, played a key role in shaping the modern Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Many Palestinians view the declaration as the beginning of their displacement and suffering, culminating in the Nakba of 1948. If the UK proceeds with recognition, the United States would become the only permanent member of the UN Security Council (P5) not to do so. That isolation could further challenge the US's position as an 'impartial mediator' in Middle Eastern peace talks. Shaarvi Magazine is a summer intern with The Indian Express
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
‘By our side': Syrian foreign minister urges Russia's support amid uncertainty; Moscow vows reconstruction assistance
Assad al-Shaibani (left), Serge Lavrov (AP) Syrian foreign minister Assad al-Shaibani on Thursday said his country wants Russia 'by our side" while on his first official visit to Moscow, reported news agency AFP. Al-Shibani also called on Russia for "mutual respect" between both nations. The statement comes as he becomes the first Syrian official in the new government in Damascus to visit Moscow ever since the ouster of Syria's previous Moscow-backed president Basar al-Assad. "The current period is full of various challenges and threats, but it is also an opportunity to build a united and strong Syria. And, of course, we are interested in having Russia by our side on this path," he told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, as quoted by the news agency. "But, of course, there are a number of factors that determine and complicate these relations on the ground," al Shaibani added. Earlier Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova had told state news agency Tass that al-Shibani is scheduled to meet with Russian foreign ministry Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Thursday. The agenda he said will include discussions on bilateral relations in addition to 'international and regional issues.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ranked: The Most Stunning Underrated Coastal Getaways in Europe Learn More Undo Lavrov said Russia was "ready to provide the Syrian people with all possible assistance in post-conflict reconstruction," quoted AFP. Though they were once on opposing sides in the civil war, Syria's new leadership under interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa have changed their stance toward Moscow. A Russian delegation visited Damascus in January, followed by a call between Putin and al-Sharaa described as 'constructive and business-like'. Some Russian forces remain on Syria's coast, and Russia has reportedly sent oil shipments to the country, according to AP. Al-Sharaa has previously thanked Moscow for its 'strong position in rejecting Israeli strikes and repeated violations of Syrian sovereignty' during recent clashes involving Druze fighters. Al-Assad, long a key Russian ally in the region, reportedly fled to Moscow last year after a swift rebel offensive ended the Assad family's five-decade rule.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Very hard to make trade deal with Canada: Trump on Carney's move to recognise Palestine State
US President Donald Trump said it would be 'very hard' for Washington, DC, to sign a trade deal with Canada after the latter's Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that he plans to recognise the state of Palestine. read more Advertisement US President Donald Trump meets Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 6, 2025. AFP File US President Donald Trump said it would be 'very hard' for Washington, DC, to sign a trade deal with Canada after the latter's Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that he plans to recognise the state of Palestine. This was yet another threat against an American ally that came on the eve of a deadline to impose tariffs. Prime Minister Carney on Wednesday said that Canada would recognise Palestine as a state if the Palestinian Authority commits to certain conditions, including holding elections. The move came days after France announced that it would do the same, and the United Kingdom also followed suit. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'That will make it very hard for us to make a trade deal with them,' Trump wrote during a social media rampage on his platform TruthSocial shortly after midnight on Thursday. Trump's comments on the matter came as he set a deadline of August 1 for countries to finish negotiating trade deals with his administration. Canada is in rough waters with the Trump administration Otherwise, he warned that tariffs up to 50 per cent would be imposed on the products they send to the United States. If the Trump administration goes through with its threat, from Friday, exports from Canada, the US's second-largest trading partner, would bear a 35 per cent tariff. Since taking office in January this year, the Trump administration has often pressured the American allies to change their policies to avoid high tariffs. Recently, his threat to pull out of trade talks with Cambodia and Thailand seemed to contribute to a quick cease-fire agreement after a five-day conflict between the countries. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On Wednesday, the president stirred yet another storm after he announced 25 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, calling it a penalty for purchasing oil and military equipment from Russia. Earlier this year, he threatened Canada with tariffs if it did not act to curb fentanyl trafficking through its border with the United States, which is minimal. Canada's announcement followed a similar move last week by President Emmanuel Macron of France to recognise Palestine. Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Tuesday that Britain would recognise Palestine if Israel did not reach a cease-fire agreement on the war in Gaza by September. Apart from Carney, Trump has also dismissed Macron's announcement, saying it 'doesn't carry any weight'.
