By Saadet Gokce
ISTANBUL (AA) - Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Friday said Thailand and Cambodia need some time to pull back their troops from the border as part of a ceasefire, state news agency Bernama reported, as cross-border fighting continued for a second day.
“Yesterday, I had a phone conversation with the acting Prime Minister of Thailand and the Prime Minister of Cambodia, because of Malaysia’s position and their respect for us," said Anwar, addressing the 2025 Anti-Drug Day Celebration on Friday.
Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has blamed Cambodia for initiating the latest armed conflict by using "military force first," while imposing martial law in border provinces.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, meanwhile, said he made it clear to Anwar that Cambodia agreed with his proposal for a ceasefire, but Thailand reversed its initial support for the truce.
"Thai side had agreed to his proposal for a ceasefire, setting 12:00 AM on 24 July 2025 as the time for both sides to cease the fighting," Hun Manet said on Facebook. But, he added, "it is regrettable that just over an hour later, the Thai side informed that they had reversed their position from agreeing to the ceasefire at 12:00 AM on 24 July 2025, to not agreeing and waiting for a later date."