About Us
CommandEleven excels in transforming intelligence – gathered from both human and electronic networks in conflict zones – into actionable insights that inform strategic agendas, risk assessments, and communications across geopolitical and commercial domains.
Strategic Insight. Tactical Advantage.
CommandEleven is a full-service intelligence, consulting, and execution partner established in 2015, based in Pakistan with extensive operations across North America, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. CommandEleven excels in transforming intelligence – gathered from both human and electronic networks in conflict zones – into actionable insights that inform strategic agendas, risk assessments, and communications across geopolitical and commercial domains.
With a diverse suite of services – ranging from risk and impact assessment, geopolitical strategic insights, cyber security, disruptive intelligence, geostrategic advisories, and strategic communications – CommandEleven empowers clients to anticipate and respond to complex global challenges. Its comprehensive intelligence offerings are underpinned by a robust publications and insights program, which includes briefing papers, podcasts, interviews, and media appearances.
Syed Khalid Muhammad
Syed Khalid Muhammad is a seasoned strategist and thought leader with over thirty years of experience spanning security, technology, marketing, and management. Before launching CommandEleven in 2015, he built a strong footing between 1991 and 2013 in the tech and marketing sectors – deploying international ERP systems, designing sophisticated data-processing algorithms, and orchestrating multi-faceted marketing campaigns across FMCG, tech, and financial industries. In 2013, he authored Agency Rules: Never an Easy Day at the Office, a trailblazing espionage novel that fictionalizes the aftermath of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. It holds the distinction of being the first English-language espionage novel by a Pakistani and achieved international bestseller status.
Since founding CommandEleven, Syed Khalid Muhammad has expanded his purview to include intelligence, risk and threat assessment, counter-terrorism, cyber security, regional conflicts, cognitive and hybrid warfare, and geopolitics. Leveraging his battlefield insights – focused expertise in al Qaeda, the Islamic State (ISIS), Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and numerous affiliated groups – he developed a comprehensive human and electronic intelligence network across the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asian Republics, and the Indian subcontinent. This network underpins the firm’s capacity for delivering real-time, actionable intelligence.
Syed Khalid Muhammad is also a prominent media figure and commentator. He frequently appears on both domestic and international platforms – including al-Qahera, Russia Today, Pakistan Television, BOL News, and NeoNews – to discuss topics ranging from terrorism and geopolitics to national security and governance. His writing contributions span respected publications such as the Express Tribune, The Nation, and Hilal (the Pakistan Army’s official journal), where he addresses national security, military affairs, counter-terrorism, politics, and governance. Through CommandEleven, he continues to guide both private-sector clients and intelligence agencies, offering strategic communications, risk management, cybersecurity, and insight-driven consultancy.
Our Expertise
Contributing Fellows
Lt. Gen. Tariq Khan (Retired)
An erudite general from Pakistan’s Armored Corps and a decorated War Veteran, regularly speaking on critical issues related to terrorism & insurgencies. Gen. Tariq Khan, during the Battle of Bajaur, transformed and re-shaped Frontier Corps into a relentless fighting force and raised FC’s own special forces popularly known as SOG. He commanded and led major operations in FATA from the frontline, his model on counter-insurgency is still applied to this day.
Lt. Gen. Asad Durrani (Retired)
Former Director General of Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), an accomplished author and public speaker. General Durrani has been interviewed in both domestic and international media on topics ranging from security to political affairs.
Lt. Col Saleem Akthar Malik (Retired)
Holds an honors degree in War Studies, an MBA and M. Phil in Management Sciences. He is the author of a book on India- Pakistan security paradigm called the ‘Borrowed Power.”
Dr. Claude Rakisits
An Honorary Associate Professor in the Department of International Relations at the Australian National University, Visiting Research Fellow at the Centre for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy (CSDS) at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) in Brussels. His expertise is in South Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Before going into academia some 20 years ago, Dr. Rakisits had worked in the Australian public sector in the areas of defence, strategy, foreign affairs and intelligence. He has been the academic adviser at the Australian War College, and he taught strategic developments in the Indo-Pacific at Georgetown University in Washington.
Mirza Abdul Aleem Baig
An independent observer of global dynamics, with a deep interest in the intricate working of techno-geopolitics, exploring how science & technology, international relations, foreign policy and strategic alliances shape the emerging world order.
Dr. Andrew Korybko
An accomplished political analyst, journalist and a regular contributor to several online journals, as well as a member of the expert council for the Institute of Strategic Studies and Predictions at the People’s Friendship University of Russia. He specializes in Russian affairs and geopolitics, specifically the US strategy in Eurasia. His other areas of focus include tactics of regime change, color revolutions and unconventional warfare used across the world. His book, “Hybrid Wars: The Indirect Adaptive Approach To Regime Change”, extensively analyzes the situations in Syria and Ukraine and claims to prove that they represent a new model of strategic warfare being waged by the US.
Dr. James M. Dorsey
A senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, co-director of the University of Würzburg’s Institute for Fan Culture, and the author of The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer blog, a book with the same title, Comparative Political Transitions between Southeast Asia and the Middle East and North Africa, co-authored with Dr. Teresita Cruz-Del Rosario and three forthcoming books, Shifting Sands, Essays on Sports and Politics in the Middle East and North Africa as well as Creating Frankenstein: The Saudi Export of Ultra-conservatism and China and the Middle East: Venturing into the Maelstrom.
Ahmad Ibrahim
A contributing analyst to CommandEleven on military strategy, tactics and operations. He is currently completing his MPhil in Strategic Studies from National Defense University in Islamabad.
Ahmed Mehtab
An accomplished cybersecurity researcher and penetration tester, who specializes in vulnerabilities and exploits. His research covers issues related to information security & security breaches. Ahmed has been recognized and acknowledged by organizations like Google, Microsoft & Sony for discovering critical cyber-security issues.
Khurram Malik
Specializes in geopolitics, defense and history bringing a fantastic understanding to global conflicts. He is a open-source intelligence (OSINT) specialist, able to connect various parts of seeming unconnected story to develop a clear, actionable analysis.
Guest Contributors
Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad
A senior corporate leader and strategic analyst. His thought-provoking visionary insights have reshaped global discourse, capturing the attention of world leaders. His writings have not only resonated with heads of state and governments but have also influenced the foreign policies of the United States and other major powers.
Faisal Aijaz
A hard-charging and reliable analyst in the domains of counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency and national security. He brings a great deal of understanding about military affairs, strategy and tactics, helping his team to better analyze the current and potential security situations in the region.
Zeeshan Shahid Khan
Affiliated with numerous National and International
security organizations over the past 20 year prior to joining CommandEleven. He holds three Masters Degrees and an MS/MPhil in various disciplines including Arts and Sciences of Warfare and Global Business Management from Australia. Apart from being certified as a Nuclear Security Professional from WINS Academy at Vienna, he has also pursued formal education in Uloom ud Deen from International Islamic University with special interest in Islamic History of Warfare. He has worked as Director of South Asian Strategic Stability Institute University in recent years and continues to write on issues of National and International security and strategy.
Rafey Baloch
A prominent cybersecurity researcher from Pakistan. His work has been noted by Forbes, BBC, Wall Street Journal and Black Hat Asia.
Faran Jaffery
A Pakistani researcher, analyst and expert on radicalization who comments on all-things security, terrorism & geopolitics, especially in South Asia region. Faran Jeffery holds M.A. in Military History from Norwich University, M.A. in International Relations from Karachi University and Bachelors in Israel Studies from American University.
Neils Groenveld
An experienced OSINT analyst from the Netherlands, specializing in the study of geopolitics, cyber warfare, information operations, influence operations, and psychological operations. His expertise encompasses a broad range of topics critical to understanding modern strategic and security environments.
Sabeena Siddiqui
A lawyer and a journalist, writing on geopolitics and International law-related topics. She provides analysis on geopolitics and human rights issues related to the War on Terror, both domestic and international.
