Hope and Anxiety Mix as Thai-Cambodian Troops Step Back After Ceasefire

A tense border has grown quieter after Thailand and Cambodia hammered out an immediate ceasefire, ending five days of deadly exchanges. The violence, sparked by competing claims over land rich with temples and history, displaced hundreds of thousands.
Mediation in Malaysia proved decisive, and plans are underway for high-level military talks to secure the truce. Yet even as leaders praise the peace, sporadic gunfire indicated the volatility of the situation.
Refugees who fled the worst fighting are only beginning to return, uncertain whether the truce will turn into true peace. Aid agencies, meanwhile, say relief and rebuilding efforts face immense logistical and emotional challenges.
The world watches closely to see if old wounds have finally been addressed or simply paused for another day.