From Stimson.org: Confidence-building Measures in South Asia

Communication, constraint, transparency, and verification measures are the primary CBM "tools." These tools are designed to make the behavior of states more predictable by facilitating communication among states and establishing rules or patterns of behavior for states' military forces, as well as the means to discern and verify compliance with those patterns.

Communication measures can help defuse tensions during moments of crisis. They can also be employed on a more regular basis, as consultative mechanisms designed to allow states to air grievances and ward off crises before they occur.