Aditi Bhaduri

The Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) is an intergovernmental forum that promotes peace, security, and stability in Asia through dialogue and cooperation, with 28 member states. Ambassador Kairat Sarybay, the first General Secretary of CICA, was in New Delhi to attend the Raisina Dialogue, hosted by the Observer Research Foundation and the Ministry of External Affairs. He spoke exclusively to Aditi Bhaduri regarding CICA and its role in promoting mutual understanding, peace, and stability in Asia: 

⁠CICA was initiated in Kazakhstan and has rapidly increased membership.  What prompted Kazakhstan to take this initiative? 

The Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) was first proposed by the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, H.E. Mr. Nursultan Nazarbayev, on 5 October 1992 during the 47th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. The core aspiration behind this landmark initiative was to create an inclusive and effective platform for dialogue, trust-building, and cooperation to promote peace and security in Asia — a region that, unlike others, lacked a structured and comprehensive mechanism for regional security at that time.

Earlier attempts to establish such a forum had not yielded sustainable results, making CICA a timely and necessary response to the growing demand for a multilateral framework capable of addressing the region’s complex challenges.

Since its formal establishment in 1999, with 15 founding Member States, including India, CICA has grown significantly. As of today, it nearly doubled its membership to 28, reflecting the broadening recognition of its relevance. The newest member of CICA’s expanding family is Kuwait which joined in 2022, while Turkmenistan and Saudi Arabia received an Observer status in 2021 and 2023 respectively.

While expanding its membership, CICA also strives to develop partnerships with regional and international organizations to strengthen and synergize its efforts in promoting peace, security, and economic development in Asia. To this end, CICA has concluded Memoranda of Understanding with key organizations such as the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), International Organization for Migration (IOM), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of the SCO (SCO RATS).

Kairat Sarybay addressing a CICA meeting at Almaty, Kazakhstan

Let me note that expanding CICA's existing relationships and establishing new ones while promoting synergy in addressing the issues of common concern reflects one of the core priorities of the current Chairmanship of Azerbaijan – one of the founding Member States. Preceded by Kazakhstan in 2020-2024, the CICA Chairmanship was handed over to Azerbaijan at the 7th CICA Ministerial Council Meeting in December 2024 and will last until the next CICA Summit in Baku in 2026.

The growing importance of CICA was reaffirmed by the CICA Ministerial Council on the 25th Anniversary of the Declaration on the Principles Guiding Relations among the CICA Member States, which was signed in 1999 at the first CICA Ministerial meeting. The dedicated statement adopted by the 7th Ministerial Council Meeting reaffirmed that "CICA remains a unique, comprehensive intergovernmental forum for enhancing dialogue, building trust, and addressing security challenges in Asia based on consensus."

⁠ ⁠India is a member state of CICA. How do you see India’s role in Asia?

India is undeniably one of the most influential and dynamic actors in Asia, playing a pivotal role in shaping the region’s political, economic, and security landscape. As a nation committed to promoting regional stability, inclusive economic growth, and multilateral cooperation, India continues to advance constructive dialogue and partnerships across Asia. Its leadership in global initiatives on climate action, sustainable development, digital innovation, and connectivity further underscores its dedication to addressing both regional and global challenges.

On the multilateral front, India remains a vocal and proactive participant in key regional and international organizations and consistently advocates for inclusive sustainable development and equitable growth. India's status as one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping operations also reflects its enduring commitment to international peace and security. Importantly, India’s growing engagement reflects a forward-looking and proactive approach to regional diplomacy, security, and connectivity, which are essential for ensuring a stable and prosperous Asia.

India, as one of the founding Member States, has played a crucial role in shaping CICA's vision from its inception and remains deeply engaged in advancing its core mission. 

To understand the crucial role of India in a practical context, let me brief you on the core area of CICA’s daily activities which is reflected in its very name – confidence-building measures (CBMs). The Catalogue of CBMs is a unique document in the history of Asian diplomacy. It established the principles of voluntariness and gradualness in carrying out these CBMs, while taking into account the diversity and unique characteristics of various regions of Asia. First approved in 2004, it was substantially updated and expanded by December 2024 reflecting the current challenges of our time. 

In plain language, this Catalogue is essentially a menu of CICA Member States’ cooperation. All these confidence-building measures are grouped into 18 priority areas across five dimensions. Each priority area is coordinated by an individual Member State and can be co-coordinated by a number of states. To date, there are 17 coordinators and 23 co-coordinators.  

As the coordinator for the Combating terrorism priority area and areas like Energy security, Transportation corridors, as well as the entire Human Dimension, India demonstrates its commitment to addressing key regional challenges. Its active participation in CICA meetings and hosting of CBM events further reinforce CICA’s role as a vital multilateral forum for dialogue, and cooperation in Asia.

CICA Headquarters at Almaty

What are the biggest challenges for regional peace and security In Asia today and how can they be addressed?

Asia faces a range of complex and interlinked challenges to peace and security, including geopolitical tensions, unresolved territorial disputes, terrorism and extremism, economic instability, and the growing impact of climate change.

Geopolitical rivalries and unresolved disputes increase the risk of conflict and hinder trust among nations. Open and inclusive dialogue, coupled with confidence-building measures, is crucial to prevent escalation and promote regional stability.

Terrorism and extremism remain serious threats to regional security. Strengthening joint counterterrorism mechanisms, intelligence sharing best practices, and addressing radicalization are critical. India’s expertise within the UN framework, including through UNOCT, is a key asset in advancing these efforts. A significant milestone was reached at the 2022 CICA Summit with the adoption of the CICA Plan of Action on the Implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. In this regard, India’s aforementioned coordinator-ship in Combating Terrorism is highly valued, particularly in light of Member States' commitment to implementing this Plan of Action.

Economic disruptions, including global supply chain vulnerabilities and regional conflicts, further undermine stability, highlighting the importance of regional economic integration and resilient trade networks. Connectivity, digitalization and sustainability, are among key priorities of Azerbaijan’s Chairmanship which also coordinates the priority area of secure and effective systems of transportation corridors. 

India’s initiatives as a co-coordinator in this area are important contributions to strengthening economic resilience in the region.

Climate change is becoming an increasingly significant challenge, contributing to resource scarcity, environmental degradation, and natural disasters, all of which can exacerbate socio-political tensions. Addressing these risks requires joint action on disaster management and environmental protection. 

As the host of the historic COP29, Azerbaijan intends to extend their achievements by prioritizing climate diplomacy as part of CICA’s environmental agenda.

India’s G20 presidency and initiatives such as “LIFE” (Lifestyle for Environment) offer effective frameworks for regional cooperation on these pressing environmental issues.

CICA has taken significant steps to address these challenges, including by holding the first-ever CICA Ministerial Conference on Environmental Issues (August 28, 2024, Astana) at the initiative of Kazakhstan’s President H.E. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. CICA Member States adopted a High-Level Statement committing to collaboration on climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, water management and pollution control. 

Generally speaking, all these efforts of Member States are part of a broader context – the growing role of Asia in global affairs, increasingly emerging as a driving force behind the social, cultural and technological progress of all humanity. Cognizant of this inevitable trend, the Heads of State or Government at the Sixth CICA Summit in 2022 in Astana launched the process of CICA transformation into a full-fledged international organization at the initiative of Kazakhstan. 

These overarching transformation efforts, which were fully supported by the Chairmanship of Azerbaijan, have further strengthened the organization’s institutional framework. Azerbaijan has prioritized the goal of adopting a legally binding Charter of the organization by the next CICA Summit in Baku in 2026. The current Chairmanship places focus on institutionalization, cross-sectoral cooperation, and enhanced collaboration with other international structures, ensuring that CICA remains an effective and unified platform for addressing regional security concerns.

The continuity of priorities between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan reflects a shared commitment to multilateralism overall, particularly striving to make CICA a stronger, more efficient and influential organization capable of fostering dialogue, trust and cooperation for the sake of peace and stability across Asia.

In what ways can CICA contribute to fostering dialogue and cooperation aimed at supporting peace and improving the situation for the Afghan people? 

CICA recognizes that peace, stability and development in Afghanistan are essential for the security and prosperity of the broader region and continues to prioritize this issue. The organization remains committed to supporting the Afghan people through humanitarian and development initiatives in close cooperation with international partners. 

In 2020, Kazakh Chairmanship provided humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to mitigate the socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, following the Herat earthquake, Kazakhstan sent 1,659 tons of humanitarian aid, including food, tents, clothing, and bedding, reinforcing CICA’s commitment to regional solidarity.

At the end of 2024, Afghan business representatives participated in CICA Business Forum in Astana on advancing small businesses for sustainable regional growth. Their involvement marked a significant step toward greater engagement in CICA’s activities, reflecting growing interest in regional economic cooperation.

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Aditi Bhaduri is an independent journalist and writes on Middle East and central Asia