"Cambodia’s Defence Minister Tea Seiha said in Battambang on Saturday that a newly signed ceasefire agreement with Thailand would pave the way for the release of detained Cambodian soldiers and allow displaced civilians to return home, following weeks of deadly border clashes. “After the ceasefire, we have to fully implement it for 72 hours, allowing Thailand the possibility to release 18 Cambodian soldiers who have been detained in Thailand for 151 days,” he said. “The ceasefire is also aligned with the spirit of the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration of 26 October 2025. In addition, today’s ceasefire will allow displaced civilians residing in affected border areas the possibility to return to their homes and resume their livelihoods, as well as farming,” he added. The agreement was signed earlier on Saturday at a border checkpoint in Thailand’s Chanthaburi Province by Seiha and his Thai counterpart Natthaphon Narkphanit, bringing an end to nearly 20 days of fighting along the disputed frontier. Seiha stressed that the deal would not prejudice ongoing border demarcation efforts. “Both sides agree to refer to the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) to resume, at the earliest opportunity, survey and demarcation work in accordance with existing agreements, to achieve lasting peace along the border,” he said. He also said Cambodia and Thailand had agreed to strengthen the role of the ASEAN Observer Team in monitoring and verifying the implementation of the ceasefire and related measures. Tensions flared earlier this month along the Thai-Cambodian border. Thailand reported several soldiers and civilians killed during evacuations. Cambodia said 15 civilians were killed and 76 injured, while up to 422,698 people were displaced by the fighting. A previous ceasefire was brokered by US President Donald Trump and signed on 10/26, following an earlier border crisis. Both governments later accused each other of violating that agreement."