Colonel Sofiya Qureshi: From Operation Parakram to UN Peacekeeping and Operation Sindoor

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi: One of the major highlights of the MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) daily press briefings on India-Pakistan tension developments was an appearance by Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who was accompanied by another lady officer - Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, and foreign secretary Vikram Misri, provided the country an update and to correct false narratives in the media space.

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In the City of Pune, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi told the media that Pakistan had weaponised civil aviation in the context of India's proper, and legitimate, use of airspace, and allegations by Pakistan of "soldiers of Pakistan" being endangered by India's actions, while Pakistan was abusing international air corridors, among other abuses. Sofiya Qureshi was one of two lady officers that took to the media after India's successful Operation Sindoor.

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5 facts on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi

1. Where is Colonel Sofiya Qureshi from? Sofiya Qureshi was born in 1974 in Vadodra, Gujarat, from a military family(according to an order dated 9th March 2019of the Gujarat government) joined the Indian Army Corps of Signals in 1999, received headlines in 2016 for being the first woman officer to command a multinational military exercise.
2. Academic qualifications: She was graduated in 1997 with a masters in biochemistry by Maharaja Sayajirao University (according to an order dated 9th March 2019 of the Gujarat government) whereby her grandfather (also according to an order dated 9th March 2019) was a religious teacher in the army.
3. Rose to fame in 2016: She is now an officer in the Merchanised Infantry of the Indian Army, along with her husband. She was also the first Indian woman officer to lead an Indian contingent and is also the only woman commander out of 18 participating countries at the ASEAN Plus Multinational Military Exercise 'Force 18' in 2016. An Indian Army press statement said she had the “rare distinction of becoming the first woman officer to lead an Indian Army training contingent in such a large multinational exercise. The officer also happens to be the only Woman Officer Contingent Commander amongst all other ASEAN Plus contingents present for the exercise.”
4. Service with Indian Army: She played a key role in Operation Parakram along the Punjab border, subsequent to the attack on the Indian Parliament in December 2001. For her actions during this operation, she was awarded a Commendation Card by the General officer commanding-in-chief (GOC-in-C).
5. Role in UN peacekeeping: Colonel Sofiya Qureshi has worked on international peacekeeping missions as well. She was in a UN mission in the Peacekeeping Operations in Congo for six years. She also took on a leadership role during the flood relief operations in Northeastern India where she received a second commendation from the signal officer-in-chief.

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