Colonel Sofiya Qureshi: The Woman Who Led India’s Strike Briefing with Steely Resolve
Sameer Chaturvedi | Fri, 09 May 2025
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi stands as a trailblazer in the Indian Army, breaking barriers as the first woman to command an Indian Army contingent at a major multinational exercise, Force 18. With a career marked by leadership in United Nations peacekeeping missions and operational excellence, she has consistently demonstrated capability and resolve. Her role in briefing the nation on Operation Sindoor reinforced her status as a role model for operational confidence and strategic acumen. Colonel Qureshi’s achievements underscore the Army’s evolving ethos of recognizing talent and leadership, inspiring young women to pursue challenging roles in national defense.
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On May 7, 2025, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi stood before the nation as one of the lead briefers on Operation Sindoor, India’s calibrated military response to cross-border terror infrastructure. Her clear, authoritative explanation of the Army’s precision strikes against terror camps was a culmination of over two decades of pioneering service, a journey that has quietly redefined the contours of military leadership.
Rooted in Military Legacy
Born and raised in Gujarat, Colonel Qureshi comes from a lineage steeped in military service. Her great-great-grandfather served in the British Army during the 1857 uprising; her grandfather and father (Corps of EME) both wore the Indian Army uniform, the latter fighting in the 1971 war. With three brothers and a sister, Qureshi grew up imbibing the ethos of service and discipline.
After completing her B.Sc. and M.Sc. in the sciences from M.S. University, Vadodara, she was on track for a Ph.D. before destiny intervened. In 1999, as women’s entry into the Indian Army expanded, she pivoted to military service, a decision that would shape history.
Forging Signals in a Digital Era
Commissioned into the Corps of Signals in December 1999 from the Officers Training Academy, Chennai, Colonel Qureshi’s career synchronised with the Indian Army’s digital transformation. Over 25 years, she rose through field and staff appointments, contributing to secure communications and operational planning.
In 2006, she served as a UN military observer in the Democratic Republic of Congo, an early testament to her competence in international environments. A decade later, in 2016, she shattered another glass ceiling by commanding the Indian contingent at Exercise Force 18, an ASEAN+ multinational military exercise in Pune. As the only woman contingent commander among 18 nations, her leadership drew praise from senior military officials, including then Lt. Gen. Bipin Rawat.
Defining Operation Sindoor
At the Operation Sindoor briefing, Colonel Qureshi outlined the Army’s precise destruction of nine terror camps belonging to JeM, LeT, and HM emphasising that no Pakistani military targets were engaged. Her briefing balanced clarity, credibility and strategic messaging, underscoring India’s intent to target terror infrastructure while exercising military restraint.
"Our operations were intelligence-driven and designed to break the backbone of terrorism without escalation," she affirmed.
An Architect of Inclusion
Colonel Qureshi’s service ribbons including the Videsh Seva Medal, Special Service Medal, Sainya Seva Medal clasps, and 20-year long service ribbon mirror her diverse operational footprint. Yet it is her role as a path-breaker that leaves an indelible mark.
She has consistently advocated for women’s inclusion in defence roles, urging young aspirants: "If possible, join the Indian Army." Her career stands as proof that competence transcends gender. By co-leading the Sindoor briefing, she has further cemented the Army’s evolving ethos of equal opportunity.
Steady Leadership, Strategic Vision
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi’s journey is one of quiet transformation. From counter-insurgency operations and humanitarian missions to multinational command and cyber-era signalling, she embodies the adaptability and fortitude of a modern Indian Army officer.
Today, as she continues to serve in senior appointments, her voice calm, precise and authoritative resonates not just across military lines but in the broader narrative of gender-neutral leadership.
In the Army’s evolving communications landscape, Colonel Qureshi is more than a Signals officer. She is a signal of enduring change.
Rooted in Military Legacy
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi briefing.
Born and raised in Gujarat, Colonel Qureshi comes from a lineage steeped in military service. Her great-great-grandfather served in the British Army during the 1857 uprising; her grandfather and father (Corps of EME) both wore the Indian Army uniform, the latter fighting in the 1971 war. With three brothers and a sister, Qureshi grew up imbibing the ethos of service and discipline.
After completing her B.Sc. and M.Sc. in the sciences from M.S. University, Vadodara, she was on track for a Ph.D. before destiny intervened. In 1999, as women’s entry into the Indian Army expanded, she pivoted to military service, a decision that would shape history.
Forging Signals in a Digital Era
Commissioned into the Corps of Signals in December 1999 from the Officers Training Academy, Chennai, Colonel Qureshi’s career synchronised with the Indian Army’s digital transformation. Over 25 years, she rose through field and staff appointments, contributing to secure communications and operational planning.
In 2006, she served as a UN military observer in the Democratic Republic of Congo, an early testament to her competence in international environments. A decade later, in 2016, she shattered another glass ceiling by commanding the Indian contingent at Exercise Force 18, an ASEAN+ multinational military exercise in Pune. As the only woman contingent commander among 18 nations, her leadership drew praise from senior military officials, including then Lt. Gen. Bipin Rawat.
Defining Operation Sindoor
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.
At the Operation Sindoor briefing, Colonel Qureshi outlined the Army’s precise destruction of nine terror camps belonging to JeM, LeT, and HM emphasising that no Pakistani military targets were engaged. Her briefing balanced clarity, credibility and strategic messaging, underscoring India’s intent to target terror infrastructure while exercising military restraint.
"Our operations were intelligence-driven and designed to break the backbone of terrorism without escalation," she affirmed.
An Architect of Inclusion
Colonel Qureshi’s service ribbons including the Videsh Seva Medal, Special Service Medal, Sainya Seva Medal clasps, and 20-year long service ribbon mirror her diverse operational footprint. Yet it is her role as a path-breaker that leaves an indelible mark.
She has consistently advocated for women’s inclusion in defence roles, urging young aspirants: "If possible, join the Indian Army." Her career stands as proof that competence transcends gender. By co-leading the Sindoor briefing, she has further cemented the Army’s evolving ethos of equal opportunity.
Steady Leadership, Strategic Vision
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi’s journey is one of quiet transformation. From counter-insurgency operations and humanitarian missions to multinational command and cyber-era signalling, she embodies the adaptability and fortitude of a modern Indian Army officer.
Today, as she continues to serve in senior appointments, her voice calm, precise and authoritative resonates not just across military lines but in the broader narrative of gender-neutral leadership.
In the Army’s evolving communications landscape, Colonel Qureshi is more than a Signals officer. She is a signal of enduring change.
