Recently, Thailand suspended the “KL Peace Accord” with Cambodia after accusing  them of laying new landmines that injured four Thai soldiers in Si Sa Ket province.

Timeline of Thailand–Cambodia Conflict and Peace Deal

• Historical Background (1907): The border dispute originates from unclear demarcation made by French colonial authorities between Cambodia and Thailand, especially around ancient temple zones.
• Past Clashes (2008–2011): Violent confrontations near the Preah Vihear and Ta Moan temples caused dozens of deaths and mass displacements.
• Renewed Violence (July 2025): Five days of cross-border fighting killed at least 38 people and displaced nearly 300,000 before a ceasefire was implemented on July 29, 2025.
• KL Peace Accord (July 2025): The peace agreement, brokered with regional mediation in Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia  sought to ensure troop withdrawals, landmine clearance, and prisoner releases.
• Suspension of the Accord (November 2025): Thailand halted its implementation after a new landmine incident, alleging Cambodia’s violation of the ceasefire, while Cambodia attributed it to leftover mines from its civil war. Impact of Suspending the Peace Accord
• Border Stability Threatened: The suspension risks renewed hostilities and troop mobilisations along the 800-km disputed frontier.
• Humanitarian Concerns: It jeopardises mine-clearance operations and endangers thousands of civilians in border villages.
• Regional Diplomacy Strained: The breakdown undermines ASEAN’s mediation credibility and delays joint development and demarcation initiatives.

Way Forward

• Bilateral Verification Mechanism: Establish a joint investigation team under ASEAN to verify landmine origins and prevent misinformation.
• Reactivation of the KL Peace Accord: Resume diplomatic engagement through neutral facilitators and reaffirm commitment to non-aggression clauses.
• Expanded Mine Clearance Cooperation: Involve international demining agencies and enhance cross-border humanitarian assistance for affected civilians.
•  Following Geneva Conventions: Both Thailand and Cambodia are signatories, and adherence to it is vital to ensure humane conduct during armed conflict and peace enforcement

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