THAILAND and Cambodia will resume talks later this week to work toward a more durable ceasefire along their border, Thailand’s foreign minister said today.

The October ceasefire was rushed to ensure it could be witnessed by US President Donald Trump, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said today, and it lacked sufficient details to ensure that the peace would hold.

Cambodia has publicly said it is ready for an unconditional ceasefire, but Bangkok says it hasn’t received any direct proposal and believes such statements are aimed at increasing international pressure, rather than resolving the issue, Mr Sihasak said.

The general border committee involving both nations will meet on Wednesday to iron out detailed measures toward a lasting ceasefire, he said.

“This time, let’s thrash out the details and make sure the ceasefire reflects the situation on the ground and the ceasefire is one that really holds, and both sides are going to fully respect the ceasefire,” Mr Sihasak told a news conference.

The latest round of fighting began December 8, a day after a border skirmish wounded two Thai soldiers. 

Since then, combat has broken out on several fronts, with Thailand carrying out air strikes in Cambodia with F-16 fighter jets and Cambodia firing thousands of medium-range BM-21 rockets from truck-mounted launchers that can launch up to 40 rockets simultaneously.

More than three dozen people on both sides of the border have officially been reported killed in the past week of fighting, while more than half a million have been displaced, according to officials.