Kuala Lampur, Oct. 25 -- The sudden eruption of border clashes between Cambodia and Thailand earlier this year reminded Southeast Asia that peace is never permanent. Between May and July 2025, heavy artillery exchanges and air strikes devastated frontier villages.

More than 300,000 civilians fled their homes. Rooted in decades-old disputes over temple sites and demarcation lines, the fighting escalated into one of the most serious confrontations between the two neighbours in years.

Amid the crisis, Malaysia, as Asean Chair, stepped in. Through a sequence of quiet shuttle diplomacy and back-channel talks, Kuala Lumpur succeeded in brokering a ceasefire on July 28. The result was called the KL Accord - a reaffirmation that Asean's commitm...