India had called the alleged demolition a ‘disrespectful act’ after a statue of Lord Vishnu was allegedly destroyed by the Thai military on Monday after over two weeks of military clashes between the two nations. Earlier, Kim Chanpanha, a government spokesman in the border province of Preah Vihear, told AFP that the Vishnu statue was located within Cambodia's territory. What Thailand said Thailand, however, in its statement, reportedly claimed the ‘symbols’ (statue) were erected by Cambodian soldiers to illegally claim sovereignty over Thai territory. Thailand-Cambodia border clashes The controversy surrounding the demolition of the Vishnu statue comes amid the recent wave of fierce border clashes between Thailand and Cambodia, which killed at least 86 people, according to Reuters. Military officials from the two strife-torn nations began talks on Wednesday, both countries said, days after the neighbours agreed to discuss resumption of a ceasefire after 16 days of fierce border clashes.

Source: Mint December 25, 2025 10:24 UTC