Who Is Colonel Sophia Qureshi? The Trailblazing Army Officer Who Briefed India On Operation Sindoor

Colonel Sophia Qureshi of nan Indian Army made headlines arsenic she stepped forward, alongside Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of nan Air Force, to jointly little nan federation connected Operation Sindoor—India’s targeted cross-border strikes successful Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. 

At a infinitesimal of strategical value and nationalist mourning, Colonel Qureshi’s calm beingness connected nan dais wasn’t conscionable symbolic—it was earned done decades of frontline service, world deployments, and pioneering leadership.

Colonel Qureshi is champion known for being nan first female serviceman to lead an Indian Army contingent successful a multinational subject exercise. In 2016, she commanded India’s squad astatine ‘Exercise Force 18’, nan largest overseas subject drill ever hosted by India. Of nan 18 participating countries, she stood retired not only arsenic nan sole female contingent commandant but besides arsenic a benchmark of India’s evolving subject ethos—one that values competence complete convention.

Originally from Gujarat, Colonel Qureshi holds a postgraduate grade successful biochemistry and comes from a subject family—her grandfather served successful nan Indian Army. She is besides joined to an serviceman successful nan Mechanised Infantry, reinforcing a life steeped successful nan subject and work of equipped duty.

Her world acquisition includes six years pinch United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (PKO), notably during nan UN Mission successful Congo (2006). During her tenure, she monitored ceasefires and supported humanitarian missions successful progressive conflict zones. Reflecting connected her deployment, she erstwhile described it arsenic a “proud moment”, urging chap women officers to “work difficult for nan state and make everyone proud.”

Colonel Qureshi’s emergence done nan ranks has ne'er been framed arsenic tokenism. 

As nan precocious General Bipin Rawat, past Army Commander of Southern Command, erstwhile put it: “Her action was based connected her capabilities and activity qualities, not her gender.”

Published on: May 7, 2025 11:28 AM IST