🇮🇳 Colonel Sofiya Qureshi: Indian Army Trailblazer
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, a senior officer in the Corps of Signals, continues to set new milestones in the Indian Army. She recently led the official briefing on Operation Sindoor, launched after the terror attack in Pahalgam.
🔴 Leading the Briefing on Operation Sindoor
Col Qureshi was one of two women officers who addressed the media. She presented maps, strike footage, and intelligence inputs about the targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
She stated that nine terrorist camps were destroyed. These locations were selected carefully to avoid civilian casualties and damage.
🏅 A Career of Many Firsts
In 2016, Col Qureshi made history. She became the first woman officer to lead an Indian Army team in a multinational military drill.
At 35, she led a 40-member team during Exercise FORCE 18, the largest ground forces training on Indian soil.
The exercise involved ASEAN Plus countries. It focused on Peacekeeping Operations and Humanitarian Mine Action.
🌍 Service Beyond Borders
Col Qureshi holds a postgraduate degree in Biochemistry. In 2006, she served with the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Congo.
She has also worked with peacekeeping teams for several years during her career.
During Exercise FORCE 18, she was the only woman commander among all ASEAN Plus nations.
🗣 A Voice for Young Women
When asked about leading a contingent, she said, “I feel proud, of course.”
Her message to young women: “Join the Army. Work hard for the country and make everyone proud.”
The Indian Army praised her as a role model.
Late General Bipin Rawat, then Southern Command Chief, said:
“She was selected not because she is a woman, but because she has the skill and leadership to do the job.”
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi is an icon of strength, leadership, and national pride. She proves that with discipline and dedication, nothing is beyond reach.hi is not just a name but a symbol of what dedication, discipline, and determination can achieve—an inspiration for every Indian and especially young women who aspire to serve their nation.