India Urges Restraint, Cites Global Duty to Protect Preah Vihear as Clashes Threaten World Heritage

PHNOM PENH/NEW DELHI (Dec. 16, 2025) — India on Tuesday urged Cambodia and Thailand to exercise restraint after reports of damage to conservation facilities at the UNESCO listed Preah Vihear Temple amid renewed border clashes.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs said it had noted the reports, calling harm to conservation infrastructure “unfortunate” and a matter of serious concern.

“The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Preah Vihear Temple is a shared cultural heritage of humanity,” ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, adding that India has been closely involved in preservation efforts. He expressed hope that measures would be taken to safeguard the temple and related works.

India reiterated its appeal for both sides to cease hostilities and return to dialogue, stressing the importance of protecting cultural heritage during armed conflict.

Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has condemned Thai military actions it said destroyed Ta Krabey Temple and damaged facilities at Preah Vihear, including structures linked to a Cambodia–India restoration project.

UNESCO has also warned that intensified fighting poses grave risks to World Heritage sites, urging compliance with the 1954 Hague Convention and the 1972 World Heritage Convention.

Preah Vihear, inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2008, remains a sensitive symbol in Cambodia–Thailand relations. India’s intervention underscores growing international concern that continued hostilities could cause irreversible damage to a site regarded as part of humanity’s collective heritage.