Kazakhstan occupies Eurasia’s heartland at the junction of Asia and Europe with huge resource base. It was therefore important for Kazakhstan to develop relations in all directions for which the Republic adopted a multi-vector policy since independence. In a polarized world it is necessary to prevent perceptions of taking sides through a multi-vector and multi-dimensional foreign policy. Kazakhstan is a success story in this regard. Kazakhstan’s multi vector policy is based on the geographical location of the country to serve as a bridge between Asia and Europe. The Republic diversified its foreign relations through multi-vector foreign policy and successfully maneuvers between the great powers’ competing interests.
However realizing its close security, economic and political relations with Russia, Astana never distanced itself from Moscow while successfully developing relations with other powers and countries. As Michael Clarke put it “Kazakhstan’s multivectorism had been successful by managing relations with Russia, developing a burgeoning relationship with China and developing a positive relationship with them united States”. Kazakhstan, well aware of regional realities, has managed a balance while developing relations with giant neighbors Russia and China and distant powers like USA and EU and extended neighborhood like Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Republic is also advocating and developing close regional cooperation with in Central Asia. Kazakhstan has turned into a geo-economic and geostrategic centre of Eurasia and even Asia with resource base and investment it has attracted since independence. Resultantly the Eurasian corridors are passing through the country. Globalization has been stagnant; cooperation on resolving universal issues has slowed down while the general trend in international relations has been moving from global to group cooperation and development of regional structures and organizations.
In the changed global and regional geopolitical configuration, Asia has assumed added significance due to its resource base, human capital and economic dynamism. However various regions of Asia are faced with instability due to security issues and are least integrated. The Asian vector in Kazakhstan’s multi vector policy consequently assumes greater importance for furthering multilateral cooperation to address the issues of security and development in the region and in the entire Asian continent. Definitely stable and secure Asia will enhance global security and development. In this context Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO henceforth) and Conference for Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA, henceforth) become important tools for Kazakhstan and other member states for developing multilateral cooperation in diverse fields on Asian continent consequently helping global security and prosperity. In this regard this particular paper looks into the roles of the two Organizations in developing multilateral cooperation in diverse fields.
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)
The Shanghai Five after successfully resolving border issues and demilitarization of borders transformed into SCO in July 2001. It was July 2005 in Astana that Pakistan for the first time attended SCO Summit as observer and again in Astana, June 2017 when Pakistan officially became member of SCO. Kazakhstan from the very beginning supported Pakistan’s inclusion in the organization. SCO is an important multilateral cooperation Forum for Kazakhstan, Pakistan and other member states for enhancing regional security, stability and connectivity for shared growth and prosperity. The continuous growth of SCO as an international organization is based on its continuous improvement of cooperation concept and cooperation mechanism.
The cooperation concept have been evolved and framed within the concept of Shanghai Spirit which in turn is based on the principles of respect for sovereignty, quality, consultation, openness, inclusivity, win win cooperation, mutual benefit and shared growth towards common destiny. The common destiny is peace, security and development. The cooperation mechanism has been developed on a broader and firm organizational structure. SCO has expanded the areas of cooperation from security to political, cultural, economic, people to people and academic exchanges and cooperation. The SCO university program shall be activated and Pakistani universities shall be included and linked to the network for joint research projects in multiple disciplines.
Challenges and Prospects
The security risks in the region as well as global arena are high. SCO and CICA can be instrumental in reducing regional as well as Asia’s security risks. Multilateralism is weak in Asia as compare to West (USA and Europe) and the two organizations provide best platforms for enhancing multilateralism in Asia. The sense of SCO community with shared future is weak. The success of SCO is based on and hides in its principles of equality, respect for sovereignty and consensus. Therefore the spirit of respect for sovereignty, shared growth, common prosperity and shared destiny shall be strengthened.
Afghanistan is surrounded by SCO member states while situation in SCO region depends on situation in Afghanistan. The SCO member states are direct stake holders in the security and development of Afghanistan. According to Kuralay Maksut the situation in Afghanistan was one of the main factors in creating the SCO. Therefore the Afghanistan imbroglio shall be addressed jointly by the regional countries in particular through active role of the SCO. SCO can play important role in forging a regional consensus for security and development in Afghanistan. Fitting Afghanistan into economic and resource-oriented network could help developing the entire SCO region while stemming growth of extremist groups. Definitely cooperative responses will be required from Afghanistan.
Kazakhstan has declared its motto of World Unity for Just Peace and Harmony which is appealing in this polarized world to address issues of regional security and develop mutual trust. The SCO has constantly improved security cooperation however much work is needed to institutionalize economic cooperation and connectivity. Kazakhstan has prioritized transport connectivity along with trade development, digitalization, smart agriculture, innovation and high tech for its SCO’s Chairmanship.4 SCO budget can be developed through establishing SCO Development Bank for accelerated development of cross border connectivity. The idea of SCO Development Bank has been there since 2010 though interbank consortium of SCO established in 2005.
The creation of the SCO Development Bank can not only respond to the consequences of the international financial crisis, but also optimize the SCO’s financial resources, strengthen the SCO’s internal financial cooperation, and reinforce development activities including cross border infrastructure. Russia has been hampering the development of SCO Bank as it fears further Chinese dominance in Central Asia and desires China to join Eurasian Development Bank instead.6 However in the changed global and Central Asian context, Russia may support the establishment of the Bank as Sino-Russian condominium strengthens in Central Asia in the face of US withdrawal and Ukraine war. It seems possible to widen the mandate of the SCO from pure security and strategic functions to issues of economic development and energy partnerships. The SCO agreement signed in 2015 under article 15 states that the member states take the necessary measures to find opportunities for the development and implementation of joint investment projects for the development of road transport corridors connecting the territories of the member states. These agreements need to be ratified by the governments of member states.
SCO needs to coordinate and harmonies priorities and interests with ECO, CICA, CAREC, BRI and EAEU for security as well as development of trans-regional corridors including Eurasians corridors, Middle corridor and North-South corridor from Russia via Central Asia to South Asia and Arabian Sea. Kazakhstan has also to chair CAREC Program for 2024. The Republic therefore can coordinate cooperation between SCO and CAREC on the development of corridors. Conference for Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) CICA is a multinational organization for enhancing cooperation for peace, security and stability in Asia. The idea was proposed by former President of Kazakhstan.
Nursultan Nazarbiev on Oct. 5, 1992 at the 47th Session of the UN General Assembly Declaration on the principles guiding relations between CICA members adopted in Almaty in September 1999 while the Charter of CICA was adopted in June 2002 at the first Summit of CICA. Based on the principles of respect for sovereignty and non-intervention, CICA aims to promote social, cultural, economic and academic cooperation to achieve peace, security and stability in Asia. The criteria to be a member state of CICA, a country must have at least a part of its territory on Asian continent. Currently there are 28 member states of the Organization with Secretariat in Astana. CICA resembles the Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in its aims and objectives. The visionary leader of Kazakhstan envisaged a similar structure for peace and security through dialogue and regional cooperation in Asia.
CICA is a forum where Pakistan and India and Iran and Israel all sit together to discuss confidence building measures. Asian states have diversity in cultural, political, social and economic realms however peace, security and development is a shared goal which CICA aims to achieve. The Forums and regional organizations like CICA and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) can be instrumental in realizing the dream of Asian century. The dialogue forums such as CICA shall be fully utilized for resolving issues of security and development through mutual consultation.
If the Asian states continue to fail in resolving political differences through dialogue and fail to forge closer cooperation, the end of Asian century will be the outcome as opined by Michael R. Auslin in his 2017 book entitled “The End of the Asian Century: War, Stagnation, and the Risks to the World’s Most Dynamic Region”. CICA Think Tank Forum had been transformed into CICA Institute having research institutes from member states as units for exchange of research material as well as for joint research projects. I would suggest the Area Study Centre for Russia, China and Central Asia University of Peshawar to be formally part of CICA TTF as Pakistan is one of the founding members of the organization.
Kazakhstan’s giant neighbors Russia and China, smaller neighbors CARs and extended neighborhood Afghanistan and Pakistan assume special attention and significance in Asia’s Vector of multi-vector policy. Russia’s Greater Eurasian Partnership (GEP) has replaced Greater European Project for Russia in post Ukraine conflict. Kazakhstan has a significant role in GEP as a member of EAEU. In China’s Belt i.e. overland connectivity from China to European and African continents,
Kazakhstan has again an important role and key position. In the southern direction Kazakhstan and other CARs can revive the historical links and open up via Afghanistan and Pakistan to South Asia, Arabian Sea and beyond. The Russian highway 7 from Yekaterinburg via Astana, Tashkent, Kabul and Gwadar can be transformed into North South Corridor. In this context CICA and SCO shall be utilized for bringing peace and security to Afghanistan and resolving disputes in Central and South Asia through dialogue. Formation of CICA Council for sustainable connectivity and CICA Fund can be instrumental in this regard.
