India Calls on CICA Nations to Stand United Against All Forms of Terrorism and Uphold National Sovereignty

India has urged member countries of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) to strengthen their collective response to all forms of terrorism, including cross-border terrorism. It also stressed that regional connectivity initiatives must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of every participating nation. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh led India's delegation to the 7th CICA Summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Thursday. Addressing the summit's plenary session, he reiterated India's commitment to regional peace, security and inclusive multilateral cooperation.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Singh highlighted India's continued involvement in CICA initiatives and called for stronger cooperation among member states to combat terrorism. He emphasised that coordinated action was necessary to address shared security challenges and promote stability throughout Asia. Singh also underscored the principles that should guide regional connectivity projects. The MEA stated that he called for such initiatives to be transparent, financially sustainable and inclusive, while fully respecting the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of all CICA members.

In a post on X, Singh said his address reflected India's philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, meaning “The World is One Family.” He presented the principle as a foundation for promoting peace, friendship, cooperation and joint efforts to tackle common challenges, including cross-border terrorism. The summit provided a platform for participating countries to discuss ways to deepen regional partnerships, build mutual confidence and advance peace and stability across Asia.

Singh also highlighted the importance of inclusive, consensus-driven multilateral engagement in addressing challenges affecting the region. India's approach, he indicated, remains centred on dialogue, cooperation and collective responsibility. The 7th CICA Summit adopted the Baku Declaration, which recognised the significance of connectivity, digitalisation and sustainable development in advancing confidence-building measures and economic progress across Asia.

As a founding member of CICA, India reaffirmed its support for the forum as a platform for dialogue, consensus-building and cooperation among Asian countries. The organisation seeks to strengthen regional security and foster peaceful relations, recognising the close connection between security in Asia and stability worldwide.

The CICA initiative was proposed in 1992 by Kazakhstan's founding President, Nursultan Nazarbayev, during the 47th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The proposal aimed to establish a cooperative framework to promote peace and security across the Asian continent. Its membership brings together countries from different parts of Asia and neighbouring regions, including India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Iran, Israel, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates, among others. India's participation in the summit underscores its continued engagement with regional multilateral institutions and its emphasis on collective efforts against terrorism, respect for national sovereignty and inclusive cooperation as essential elements of long-term peace and stability in Asia.