Sat Aug 02 08:27:44 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text, written from an Indian perspective and in a neutral tone appropriate for a news source like *The Hindu*:
**Headline: Cambodia, Thailand Exchange Wounded Soldiers Amidst Lingering Tensions**
**Phnom Penh, Cambodia | August 2, 2025 (IST)** – In a small gesture towards de-escalation, Cambodia welcomed the return of two wounded soldiers from Thailand on Friday (July 31, 2025), days after a ceasefire was implemented to end five days of intense fighting over disputed territory. The clashes, which involved infantry battles, artillery duels, and even airstrikes, have left at least 15 dead and displaced over 260,000 people.
The repatriation occurs amidst ongoing accusations and counter-accusations of war crimes and civilian targeting, underscoring the fragile nature of the ceasefire and the deep-seated mistrust between the two Southeast Asian nations.
The Thai military claims to be holding the remaining 18 Cambodian soldiers captured during the fighting. Cambodian officials are demanding their immediate release, citing international humanitarian law. They assert the soldiers were captured while approaching Thai positions with peaceful intentions. However, Thai officials claim the Cambodian soldiers entered Thai territory with hostile intentions.
Adding fuel to the fire, the Cambodian Human Rights Committee, a government agency, has alleged that the repatriated soldiers were tortured and denied medical care while in Thai custody, demanding a UN investigation. These claims are currently unsubstantiated.
The fighting stems from long-standing disputes over pockets of land along the border. Despite the ceasefire, military representatives are scheduled to meet next week, these talks will notably exclude discussions on the underlying territorial claims.
Both sides are actively engaged in public relations efforts, conducting tours for foreign diplomats to showcase damage allegedly inflicted by the other. The online sphere has also become a battleground, with accusations of malicious hacking and the spread of disinformation.
The situation is being closely watched in the region, particularly in India, where maintaining stability and peaceful relations between neighboring countries is seen as crucial for regional security and economic development. While the exchange of soldiers is a positive step, the deep-rooted animosity and unresolved territorial disputes suggest that lasting peace between Cambodia and Thailand remains a distant prospect. India is hoping the planned talk will bring further de-escalation.
First Piper 