India urges restraint as Thailand-Cambodia clashes damage 1,100-year-old Hindu temple, calls for dialogue

This pool photo taken and released on August 20, 2025 by Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP) shows Cambodian and foreign military personnel speaking during a visit organized by Cambodia's Ministry of Defence following the Cambodia–Thailand border conflict at the Preah Vihear temple in Preah Vihear province. (Photo by POOL / AFP)

India on Friday urged Thailand and Cambodia to show restraint and avoid any further escalation after the two Southeast Asian neighbours resumed border clashes that reportedly damaged the 11th-century Preah Vihear Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site on their shared frontier.

The Ministry of External Affairs described reports of damage to conservation facilities as “unfortunate" and expressed concern over the safety of the historic site. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Preah Vihear temple is a shared cultural heritage of humanity. India has been closely involved in its preservation."

He added that India expects both sides to take all steps necessary to protect the monument and surrounding structures. “We sincerely hope that all measures will be taken to fully safeguard the site and related conservation facilities. We once again reiterate our appeal to both sides to exercise restraint and to take measures for cessation of hostilities and prevention of further escalation. We urge them to return to the path of dialogue and peace."

The renewed fighting comes in spite of a ceasefire reached with the involvement of US President Donald Trump. Clashes have erupted at more than a dozen points along the 817-km border in what officials describe as the most intense violence since a five-day confrontation in July. Both countries accuse each other of reigniting hostilities. Thailand’s army has signalled that it intends to weaken Cambodia’s military capabilities, while Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Tuesday that operations would not stop. Cambodia has responded by saying it acted in self-defence and remains open to talks.

UNESCO calls for urgent protection

The Preah Vihear Temple, known in Thai as Phra Viharn, is an 11th-century Hindu shrine built during the Khmer Empire and holds deep cultural and spiritual value for both Thailand and Cambodia. It has also been a long-standing point of contention, with border claims surrounding the temple leading to repeated disputes. The International Court of Justice ruled in favour of Cambodia in 1962 and again in 2013 in cases concerning the land around the temple, but Thailand has resisted the decisions.

Recent reports indicate that artillery and aerial strikes by Thailand caused extensive damage to gateways, sculptures, the northern staircase and several conservation buildings at the site. Cambodia has accused Thailand of violating international law, while Thai officials maintain that their forces targeted only military positions.

UNESCO has voiced alarm over the escalating violence and the threat to the temple. The agency urged both countries to protect the heritage site and respect international commitments. In its statement, UNESCO called for the safeguarding of cultural heritage “in all its forms" and referenced the 1954 Hague Convention and the 1972 World Heritage Convention as guiding frameworks. It added that it is monitoring the situation and stands ready to provide technical support and emergency protection once conditions allow.

The latest round of clashes underscores how the unresolved border dispute continues to pose risks to regional stability and to one of Southeast Asia’s most significant cultural landmarks.