Indian Embassy Warns Tourists as Thailand-Cambodia Border Conflict Intensifies

Bangkok: As deadly clashes escalate along the Thailand-Cambodia border, the Indian Embassy in Thailand has issued a travel advisory urging Indian citizens to steer clear of conflict-affected regions and remain updated through official Thai sources.

The advisory, shared on the Embassy’s official X handle, cautions Indian travellers against visiting seven eastern Thai provinces bordering Cambodia, where violence has claimed 14 Thai lives so far and injured dozens more. The message encourages travellers to consult updates from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) before planning or continuing their trips.

The provinces flagged as unsafe include Ubon Ratchathani, Surin, Sisaket, Buriram, Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi, and Trat, all of which lie near contested stretches of the 817-kilometre border. The unrest has led to the evacuation of over 130,000 people in Thailand and nearly 12,000 families in Cambodia, according to regional authorities.

Fighting erupted earlier this week following a landmine explosion that wounded five Thai soldiers. Tensions flared rapidly, with Cambodian forces allegedly launching rocket attacks across the border, prompting Thailand to retaliate with F-16 airstrikes. Thai officials blame Cambodia for planting new Russian-made landmines, a claim Phnom Penh denies, attributing the explosives to old war-era ordnance.

At the centre of the dispute are ancient religious sites — the Ta Muen Thom and Preah Vihear temples — long-contested by both nations. Though the International Court of Justice awarded Preah Vihear to Cambodia in 1962, and reaffirmed the ruling in 2013, Thailand continues to assert claims over surrounding territory.

Recent airstrikes near the UNESCO-listed Preah Vihear monument have prompted outrage from Cambodia, which is calling the strikes a violation of international law. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has requested an urgent session of the UN Security Council, calling Thailand’s actions “unprovoked and premeditated.” Cambodia has also expelled Thailand’s ambassador, escalating the diplomatic row.

Thailand maintains that its actions were carried out in self-defence, accusing Cambodia of initiating the attacks and targeting civilians. Meanwhile, the United Nations has appealed for calm, with Secretary-General António Guterres urging both countries to resolve their differences through dialogue.

With no signs of de-escalation and heavy artillery continuing to be used along the border, the situation remains volatile. The Indian government has advised its nationals in Thailand to exercise extreme caution, avoid high-risk areas, and stay informed through verified sources such as the TAT newsroom.