Latest news with #borderconflict
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 days ago
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Thailand and Cambodia Reinforcing Troops on Disputed Border After May Skirmish, Thai Minister Says
Thailand has reinforced its military presence along a disputed border with Cambodia, following an increase in troops on the other side, Thailand's defense minister said on Saturday, as tensions simmer following a deadly clash. For days, the two Southeast Asian governments have exchanged carefully worded statements committing to dialogue after a brief skirmish in an undemarcated border area on May 28 in which a Cambodian soldier was killed. But Phumtham Wechayachai, who also serves as Thailand's deputy prime minister, said that during talks bilateral talks held on Thursday, Cambodia had rejected proposals that could have led to a de-escalation. "Furthermore, there has been a reinforcement of military presence, which has exacerbated tensions along the border," Phumtham said in a statement. "Consequently, the Royal Thai Government has deemed it necessary to implement additional measures and to reinforce our military posture accordingly." He did not provide details on the extent of reinforcements by either side. In a separate statement on Saturday, the Thai army said Cambodian soldiers and civilians had repeatedly made incursions into Thailand's territory. "These provocations, and the build up of military forces, indicate a clear intent to use force," the Thai army said, adding that it would take control of all Thai checkpoints along the border with Cambodia. A spokesperson for Cambodia's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to questions from Reuters. The military reinforcements come despite efforts by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is the current chair of the Southeast Asian ASEAN bloc, and China to reduce tensions. Thailand and Cambodia have for more than a century contested sovereignty at various undemarcated points along their 817 km (508 miles) land border, which was first mapped by France in 1907 when Cambodia was its colony. Tension escalated in 2008 over an 11th-century Hindu temple, leading to skirmishes over several years and at least a dozen deaths, including during a weeklong exchange of artillery in 2011. Current governments in both countries, however, have enjoyed warm ties. Former leaders Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand and Cambodia's Hun Sen have had a close relationship, and Thaksin's daughter and Hun Sen's son are now the incumbent prime ministers of their countries. Still, nationalist sentiment has risen in Thailand and the Thai military said on Friday that it is ready to launch a "high-level operation" to counter any violation of its sovereignty. Cambodia said this week it would refer disputes over four parts of the border to the International Court of Justice and asked Thailand to cooperate. Phumtham reiterated in his Saturday statement that Thailand does not recognize the jurisdiction of the court and proposed that all boundary-related issues be resolved through bilateral negotiations.
Arab News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Thai army to take control of checkpoints on border with Cambodia
BANGKOK: Thailand's army said on Saturday it would take control of the opening and closing of border checkpoints on the border with Cambodia as tensions between the two countries rise. Thailand has reinforced its military presence along a disputed border with Cambodia, following an increase in troops on the other side, Thailand's defense minister said on Saturday, as tensions simmer following a deadly clash. For days, the two Southeast Asian governments have exchanged carefully worded statements committing to dialogue after a brief skirmish in an undemarcated border area on May 28 in which a Cambodian soldier was killed. But Phumtham Wechayachai, who also serves as Thailand's deputy prime minister, said that during talks bilateral talks held on Thursday, Cambodia had rejected proposals that could have led to a de-escalation. 'Furthermore, there has been a reinforcement of military presence, which has exacerbated tensions along the border,' Phumtham said in a statement. 'Consequently, the Royal Thai Government has deemed it necessary to implement additional measures and to reinforce our military posture accordingly.' He did not provide details on the extent of reinforcements by either side. In a separate statement on Saturday, the Thai army said Cambodian soldiers and civilians had repeatedly made incursions into Thailand's territory. 'These provocations, and the build up of military forces, indicate a clear intent to use force,' the Thai army said, adding that it would take control of all Thai checkpoints along the border with Cambodia. A spokesperson for Cambodia's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to questions from Reuters. The military reinforcements come despite efforts by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is the current chair of the Southeast Asian ASEAN bloc, and China to reduce tensions. Thailand and Cambodia have for more than a century contested sovereignty at various undemarcated points along their 817 km (508 miles) land border, which was first mapped by France in 1907 when Cambodia was its colony. Tension escalated in 2008 over an 11th-century Hindu temple, leading to skirmishes over several years and at least a dozen deaths, including during a weeklong exchange of artillery in 2011. Current governments in both countries, however, have enjoyed warm ties. Former leaders Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand and Cambodia's Hun Sen have had a close relationship, and Thaksin's daughter and Hun Sen's son are now the incumbent prime ministers of their countries. Still, nationalist sentiment has risen in Thailand and the Thai military said on Friday that it is ready to launch a 'high-level operation' to counter any violation of its sovereignty. Cambodia said this week it would refer disputes over four parts of the border to the International Court of Justice and asked Thailand to cooperate. Phumtham reiterated in his Saturday statement that Thailand does not recognize the jurisdiction of the court and proposed that all boundary-related issues be resolved through bilateral negotiations.
Bloomberg
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Thai and Cambodian Soldiers Briefly Clash in Disputed Border Area
BANGKOK (AP) — Thai and Cambodian soldiers briefly fired at each other in their disputed border area Wednesday, the Thai and Cambodian armies said. The Thai statement said the Cambodian soldiers entered a disputed area and Thai soldiers approached the area to negotiate but due to misunderstanding, the Cambodian side opened fire and the Thai soldiers then retaliated.
Russia Today
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
India and Pakistan engage in tit-for-tat expulsion of diplomats
India and Pakistan each expelled diplomats from the other's high commission on Tuesday, accusing them of espionage. The move has further strained relations amid border tensions. New Delhi first ordered the expulsion of a Pakistani diplomat, citing 'activities beyond his official role' and suggesting that the unnamed official was engaged in espionage. India also issued a formal protest to the Pakistani charge d'affaires in New Delhi regarding the official's actions, the Indian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Pakistan responded by asking an unnamed Indian diplomat in Islamabad to leave the country, according to a Pakistani Foreign Ministry statement. 'The Government of Pakistan has declared a staff member of the Indian High Commission, Islamabad, as persona non grata for engaging in activities incompatible with his privileged status,' the ministry said on Tuesday. Islamabad also followed in Delhi's footsteps with its own demarche. 🔊PR NO.1️⃣3️⃣7️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣A Staff Member of the Indian High Commission, Islamabad, Declared as Persona Non Grata.🔗⬇️ The measures come days after a military pause was announced between the South Asian neighbors, following a brief showdown. It also follows the downgrading of diplomatic ties, announced by the two countries last month after the April 22 terrorist attack in the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir that claimed 26 civilian lives. Immediately after the attack, New Delhi implemented significant measures to reduce its diplomatic and trade relations with Islamabad, affecting diplomatic missions and visa services to Pakistani nationals. India also suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, which allows the two countries to share the waters of the Indus River system. Indian media reports said the expulsion of the Pakistani diplomat was related to leaks of sensitive information and photographs of Indian Army cantonment areas and air bases to Pakistan's intelligence agency. On Sunday, police in the Indian state of Punjab arrested two individuals for allegedly leaking classified Indian Army information to a Pakistani handler, India Today reported. The latest expulsion of diplomats means staff strength in the diplomatic missions of both countries has been reduced to 29.
Arab News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Schools reopen in Azad Kashmir after Pakistan-India ceasefire
CHAKOTHI: Schools reopened in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on Tuesday after some of the residents of border villages returned home, following a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. The truce was reached after four days of intense exchanges of fire as the old enemies targeted each other's military installations with missiles and drones, killing dozens of civilians. In the border town of Chakothi near Line of Control (LoC), attendance was thin at schools as many people, who had moved to safer places due to Indian shelling, were still slowly coming back to the area. 'For the past many days, my school remained closed due to [cross-border Indian] shelling,' said Junaid Munir, a 6th-grader. 'Today, it is open. I have to study and get ahead [in life].' The military confrontation began on May 7, when India said it launched strikes on nine 'terrorist infrastructure' sites in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir, following an attack on Hindu tourists by militants in Indian-administered Kashmir's Pahalgam town that killed 26 men last month. Islamabad denied any links to the attack and called for a neutral investigation. A local school principal said some residents were waiting for a more definitive peace solution before considering to move back to their border town homes. 'Some of the children, two or three girls, have arrived so far. But [most] parents and the rest of the people have obviously shifted elsewhere,' said Naveed Akhtar, who heads a school in Chakothi. 'That's why children are not here. The message [about reopening of schools] has been conveyed to them, and, God willing, very soon these children will return to school and our academic system will resume.' Syeda Zohra Kazmi, who studies in 7th grade, said some mortar shells had partially damaged her home, but she insisted on attending classes as the school reopened on Tuesday. 'There was shelling outside our residence as well, and some shells landed on our house,' she said. 'As the schools got reopened today, I said I will go to school. I am not afraid of shelling.'
