New Delhi: In a significant moment, two women officers of the Indian Armed Forces led the official briefing on Mission Sindoor Wednesday morning, following India’s targeted air strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. One of the officers was Colonel Sofia Qureshi, a decorated officer from Vadodara, Gujarat.
Colonel Qureshi, 35, currently serves with the Indian Army’s Corps of Signals. She has previously led the Indian contingent in United Nations Peacekeeping Missions and was among the select few chosen as key trainers for international deployments. Her association with peacekeeping operations spans over six years, and she was earlier part of the UN mission in Congo in 2006.
Born in Vadodara, Colonel Sofia Qureshi holds a postgraduate degree in Biochemistry from the M.S. University of Baroda. Before joining the army, she had also enrolled for a PhD. She hails from a family with a military background — her grandfather and father both served in the armed forces. She is married to Major Tajuddin Qureshi, an officer in the Mechanised Infantry, and the couple has a son named Sameer.
Qureshi joined the Indian Army in 1999 at the age of 17 under the Short Service Commission and was trained at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai. She was commissioned as a Lieutenant and has since held various roles of responsibility, including a posting as a military observer in the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Congo.
Over the years, Colonel Qureshi has been recognised for her exemplary service. During Operation Parakram at the Punjab border, she was awarded a letter of appreciation by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C). She also received a commendation from the Signal Officer-in-Chief (SO-in-C) for her role during flood relief operations in Northeast India.
In 2016, Colonel Qureshi made history as the first Indian woman to command a military contingent at an international military exercise. She led a 40-member Indian team during Exercise Force 18 held in Pune, which saw participation from 18 countries.
Speaking about her leadership, former Chief of Defence Staff, the late General Bipin Rawat, had remarked that the army offers equal opportunities and responsibilities to both men and women. “Colonel Qureshi was not chosen because she is a woman, but because of her leadership qualities and ability to handle critical responsibilities,” he had said.