Type / to choose a blColonel Sofiya Qureshi, a distinguished officer of the Indian Army’s Corps of Signals, once hailed by the Supreme Court for breaking gender barriers, was among the key officials briefing the media on Operation Sindoor – India’s latest counter-terror offensive against Pakistan-based groups. Her presence at the National Media Centre alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and IAF’s Wing Commander Vyomika Singh on May 7 symbolized the growing role of women in India’s defense leadership.
Col. Qureshi has long been a symbol of pioneering achievement in the armed forces. In a landmark 2020 judgment on granting Permanent Commission to women officers in the Indian Army, the Supreme Court referenced her exemplary service as proof of why women deserve full career parity. The court had called the blanket denial of command positions to women officers “indefensible” and recognized Col. Qureshi’s leadership in “Exercise Force 18,” a major multi-national military exercise hosted by India in 2016. She was the first female officer to lead an Indian Army contingent in such an event.
Her operational record spans a career of excellence and courage. In 2006, she served with the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where she helped monitor ceasefire violations and conducted humanitarian outreach in conflict zones. She has also taken part in flood relief operations in India’s Northeast, demonstrating her versatility as a frontline officer in both combat and humanitarian missions.
Born in Vadodara, Gujarat, in 1974, and holding a Master’s degree in biochemistry, Col. Qureshi’s academic and military credentials reflect her commitment to excellence. She was commissioned into the Army’s Corps of Signals and steadily rose through the ranks, becoming a role model for aspiring women officers.
The Supreme Court’s 2020 verdict, which opened the door for more women to gain Permanent Commission in the Army, cited her as an example of outstanding service. It emphasized that excluding women from leadership on the basis of gender ignored both their proven merit and the constitutional mandate for equality.
Her latest role in briefing the nation during Operation Sindoor only adds to her stature. The operation, launched in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, saw the Indian armed forces strike nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir using precision missile systems.
Col. Qureshi’s career continues to challenge outdated notions within the military hierarchy and beyond. As she stood on the dais this week, representing the strength and skill of India’s armed forces, she also stood as a testament to the transformative power of equal opportunity and the evolving face of Indian defense leadership.
