Kaswar Klasra

Articles by this Author
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement on August 7, 2026.
Middle East Forum Observer
Pakistan Puts a Counter-Terrorism General at the Helm of the Mecca Defense Alliance
Nauman Mahmood Spent Much of His Military Career Confronting Organizations That Employ Asymmetric Warfare
September 27, 2026
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Kaswar Klasra
The flags of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
Middle East Forum Observer
Which Forces Could Pakistan Deploy to Saudi Arabia?
Yemen’s Iran-Aligned Houthis Have Expanded Attacks Against Saudi Territory, Energy Infrastructure, and Maritime Interests
September 22, 2026
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Kaswar Klasra
The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, signed on August 7 by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, represents the first formalization of the slow emergence of a conservative Sunni Islamic bloc intended to provide a strategic counterweight against both Israel and Iran.
Middle East Forum Observer
Saudi Arabia Faces Its First Mecca Defense Pact Test
The Houthis Have Announced a Maritime Blockade Against Saudi Arabia and Attacked Saudi-Linked Oil Tankers
September 13, 2026
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Kaswar Klasra
The Pakistan army faces insurgents and influential Islamist lobbies at home.
Middle East Forum Observer
Pakistan’s Persian Gulf Balancing Act
Pakistan Actively Courts Gulf Arab Investment and Enters Defense Frameworks, but Avoids Regional Proxy Conflicts
September 8, 2026
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Kaswar Klasra
A smartphone shows an image of Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Middle East Forum Observer
Can Pakistan’s Strategic Gamble Survive in Washington?
Islamabad Has Practiced the Discipline of Staying Useful to Multiple Sides Without Committing Fully to Them
August 23, 2026
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Kaswar Klasra