The Indian Embassy in Cambodia has issued a travel advisory urging Indian citizens to stay away from the border regions between Cambodia and Thailand due to a significant rise in armed violence. This advisory comes at a time when the two Southeast Asian nations are experiencing their most severe clashes in over thirteen years, stemming from long-standing territorial disputes. The embassy emphasized that Indian nationals should avoid travel to areas near the border and should reach out to the embassy in case they face any emergency. The situation has grown increasingly volatile, with fears that the conflict could escalate into a full-scale war if not addressed diplomatically.
The advisory was prompted by a recent surge in hostilities, particularly in areas that have been contested for decades. On Friday, the Indian Embassy in Thailand had also released a separate advisory warning against travel to more than twenty regions across several provinces, including Ubon Ratchathani, Surin, Sisaket, Buriram, Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi, and Trat. These areas have witnessed significant military activity and have become unsafe for civilians due to ongoing violence and troop build-ups.
The fighting, which entered its third consecutive day on Saturday, has already claimed the lives of at least 31 people and displaced more than 130,000 residents from both countries. As the conflict intensifies, both Cambodia and Thailand continue to justify their military actions as acts of self-defense. Meanwhile, international concern grows as diplomatic negotiations stall, and both sides appeal for global support.
One of the new areas of conflict was reported in Trat, a coastal province in Thailand located over 100 kilometers away from the primary zones of confrontation. This indicates that the unrest is expanding beyond traditional flashpoints, further complicating the path to peace. Tensions have been particularly high since the killing of a Cambodian soldier during a brief but deadly encounter in May. This incident sparked a chain reaction, with both countries increasing their military presence in the region, leading to the current crisis.
As of the latest reports, the death toll stands at 19 in Thailand and 13 in Cambodia. These casualties are a grim reminder of the dangers posed by unresolved border disputes. The roots of the current tension can be traced back to disagreements over demarcation along their 817-kilometer shared land border. Notably, both countries lay claim to culturally and historically significant sites such as the Ta Moan Thom temple and the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple.
Though the International Court of Justice had awarded ownership of Preah Vihear to Cambodia back in 1962, friction between the two neighbors reignited in 2008 when Cambodia applied to designate the temple as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This move was perceived as provocative by Thailand and led to periodic clashes that have claimed several lives over the years. The latest round of violence marks a dangerous escalation in a conflict that has remained unresolved for decades.
