India Urges Calm as Thai-Cambodia Clashes Damage 11th-Century Preah Vihear Temple

• India expressed concern over damage to the 11th-century Preah Vihear Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, during renewed Thailand-Cambodia border clashes.
• India's Ministry of External Affairs urged both nations to exercise restraint, cease hostilities, and return to dialogue to prevent further escalation.
• The temple, considered a shared cultural heritage, reportedly sustained significant damage from artillery and aerial attacks.
• UNESCO also called for urgent protection of the site, invoking international laws for cultural heritage preservation.

Why It Matters: Border clashes threaten a shared cultural heritage site and regional peace.