Pol Pot was a Cambodian dictator who ruled the country from 1975 to 1979. He was the leader of the Khmer Rouge, a communist movement that carried out genocide against millions of Cambodians. Pol Pot’s regime was also known for its radical social and economic reforms, such as abolishing money, private property, religion, and education.
Pol Pot had a complex and changing relationship with India, a country that had supported Cambodia’s independence from France and had close cultural ties with it. India was one of the first countries to recognize the Khmer Rouge government in 1975, hoping to maintain its influence and goodwill in Southeast Asia. However, India soon became disillusioned with Pol Pot’s brutal policies and human rights violations. India also opposed Pol Pot’s hostility towards Vietnam, a traditional ally of India.
India severed its diplomatic relations with Pol Pot’s regime in 1979 after Vietnam invaded Cambodia and ousted the Khmer Rouge. India recognized the Vietnamese-backed government of Heng Samrin, which was opposed by China, the United States, and most Western countries. India also provided humanitarian aid and assistance to the Cambodian refugees who fled to Thailand. India supported the efforts of the United Nations to find a peaceful solution to the Cambodian conflict and to restore democracy and stability in the country.
India resumed its diplomatic relations with Cambodia in 1981, after the establishment of the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea (CGDK), which included the Khmer Rouge as one of its factions. India hoped that this would facilitate dialogue and reconciliation among the Cambodian parties and lead to a comprehensive settlement. India also continued to support the Vietnamese-backed government of Hun Sen, which controlled most of the territory and population of Cambodia.
India’s dual recognition of both the CGDK and the Hun Sen government reflected its balanced and pragmatic approach to the Cambodian issue. India wanted to maintain its friendly relations with all the regional actors, such as Vietnam, China, Thailand, and ASEAN, and to promote its economic and cultural interests in Cambodia. India also wanted to uphold its principles of non-alignment, non-interference, and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
India’s role in Cambodia was appreciated by both sides of the conflict and by the international community. India played an active part in the Paris Peace Accords of 1991, which ended the civil war and paved the way for free elections and national reconciliation in Cambodia. India also contributed troops and observers to the UN peacekeeping mission in Cambodia (UNTAC) from 1992 to 1993. India has since maintained its close and cordial relations with Cambodia, based on historical ties, mutual respect, and cooperation.
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