1.       Genesis.   The Agreement on a Comprehensive Political Settlement of the Cambodian Conflict was signed in Paris on 23 October 1991. They were the culmination of more than a decade of negotiations in which the UN had been closely involved. The agreement invited the Security Council to establish the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC). The mandate assigned to UNTAC was verification of the withdrawal of foreign forces, organization and implementation of the demobilization of factional forces, security and destruction of weapons and ammunition, assisting the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) with the exchange of prisoners and assisting in mine-clearing operations.

2.       Contribution.    The Indian contribution to UNTAC was considerable. The Army contingent consisted of a Battalion Group, a field ambulance, anti-mine team, staff officers and observers.  The Indian contingent’s area of responsibility included three most politically sensitive provinces. The Indian contingents carried out extensive domination of the area and valiantly fought the Khmer Rouge guerrillas. The bravery and courage of the Indian troops played a major role in breaking the myth of invincibility of the Khmer Rouge. The Indian contingents provided succor to most troubled regions in Cambodia and assisted in successful conduct of elections in May 1993.