• The first edition of CINBAX exercise between the armies of India and Cambodia commenced at Foreign Training Node, Pune on December 1. 

• The joint table top exercise will conclude on December 8. 

• Contingents comprising 20 personnel from Cambodian Army and Indian Army’s Infantry Brigade are participating in the exercise.

• The CINBAX exercise will focus on discussions pertaining to establishment of Joint Training Task Force for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance besides planning of operations in counter-terrorism environment. 

• The exercise is being conducted in three phases. Phase-I focusses on preparations and orientation of participants for counter-terrorism operations during UN peacekeeping missions. 

• Phase-II will involve conduct of the table top exercises.

• Phase-III will involve finalisation of plans and summing up. 

• This will bring out practical aspects of the theme-based training and aims to enable the participants to comprehend the procedures through situation-based discussions and tactical exercises.

India-Cambodia Bilateral Relations

• Historically, India-Cambodia relations are a product of religious and cultural influences. Though Cambodia, like most of its neighbours, is a Buddhist nation, there is a strong influence of Hindu rituals, idolatry and mythology.

• There are also strong linguistic connections, with an estimated 3,000 words being common between Sanskrit and Khmer languages. 

• In the 15th century, with the decline of Khmer empire, contacts between India and Cambodia declined under the onslaught of European powers seeking colonies in Asia. 

• India established diplomatic relations with Cambodia in 1952 even one year before its independence from France. Immediately after the Cambodian independence in 1953, India was seen as a close friend and a source of inspiration by the Cambodian leadership. 

• Strong personal association between Jawaharlal Nehru and Prince Norodom Sihanouk and their initiatives resulted in strong friendly ties between the two countries during the period 1954-1960. Prime Minister Nehru visited Cambodia in 1954. Nehru and Sihanouk cooperated closely in the process of establishing the Non-Aligned Movement. 

• From the 1970s, with the brutal regime of Khmer Rouge, Cambodia had a very disturbed and traumatic period lasting a few decades. India was the first democratic nation to recognise the Heng Samrin regime after the collapse of Khmer Rouge and open its diplomatic mission in 1981. 

• In response to an appeal by the Cambodian government, the government of India deputed a team of experts from the Archaeological Survey of India in 1986 for restoration and conservation of Angkor Wat temple.

• In the 1980s, India played an active role to facilitate dialogues between Cambodian political factions. India’s association in 1980 with the Paris Peace Accord and the intense interaction at high levels for its finalisation in 1991 is fondly remembered with gratitude by the Cambodian leadership. 

• India contributed military and non-military contingent for the conduct of the UNTAC sponsored elections in 1993. Their non-partisan and fair role  brought the 1993 elections to a successful conclusion.

• In the context of India’s ‘Act East’ policy and the ASEAN, Cambodia is an important interlocutor and a good partner. 

• Over the years, there was expansion in cooperation in diverse fields such as institutional capacity building, human resource development and extension of financial assistance in infrastructure projects, social security projects and capacity building in defence.

• India and Cambodia have signed various agreements and MoUs in the fields of bilateral cooperation, trade & commerce, cultural exchanges, capacity building, concessional loans for developmental projects and restoration and conservation of old temples in Cambodia.

• The principal commodities exported from India are: pharmaceutical products, bovine meat, motor vehicles (autos, motorcycles and spare parts), raw hides and leather, miscellaneous chemicals, etc. 

• The main exports from Cambodia are organic chemicals, vegetable oil, articles of apparel and clothing, footwear, etc.

• Mekong-Ganga Cooperation was established in November 2000 with six member countries — Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and India.

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