Vijay Oraon | firstpeople.in
In the heart of a profession long dominated by men, Lieutenant Colonel Sophia Qureshi has carved out a place in history. As the first Indian woman to lead an Indian Army contingent in a foreign military exercise, her journey exemplifies courage, discipline, and the rising strength of women in the nation’s defence forces. At a time when India’s military actions—such as the recent Operation Sindoor—draw national attention, it’s also vital to celebrate those whose leadership breaks barriers and inspires a new generation.
Breaking Barriers: A Historic First
In 2016, the Ministry of Defence announced that Lt Col Sophia Qureshi would lead the Indian Army’s contingent in ‘Exercise Force 18’, a multinational military exercise hosted in Pune. This exercise included 18 countries from the ASEAN and East Asia Summit, including the U.S., Japan, South Korea, and Russia.
Lt Col Qureshi, then a part of the Signals Corps, led a 40-member Indian team composed of Army, Navy, and Air Force personnel. She wasn’t just representing India; she was also the only woman commander among all participating nations. This moment wasn’t just a personal achievement—it was a national milestone. It marked a shift in how women are viewed within the armed forces: not just as supporters, but as frontline leaders.
A Life of Service
Born in Vadodara, Gujarat, Sophia Qureshi comes from a family with deep roots in military service. Commissioned into the Indian Army in 1999, she has served with distinction for over two decades. Her career includes active roles in sensitive and high-risk regions like Jammu & Kashmir, and she was part of Operation Parakram on the Punjab border post the 2001 Parliament attacks.
Lt Col Qureshi’s achievements include a prestigious appointment as a military observer with the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2006. There, she worked on integrating gender perspectives into mission strategies, advocating for the inclusion of women in decision-making at community and policy levels. Her experience in the UN mission expanded her vision and strengthened her leadership capabilities.
For her contributions, she has received commendation cards from both the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief and the Signal Officer-in-Chief, recognizing her role in flood relief operations in India’s Northeast and operational excellence during high-tension deployments.
Operation Sindoor and the Changing Face of Warfare
Though Lt Col Qureshi’s leadership was spotlighted during peace-time exercises, her symbolic importance resonates in today’s context as well. Operation Sindoor—India’s missile strike retaliation against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in May 2025—once again brought India’s defence strategies into public focus.
While direct roles of officers like Lt Col Qureshi in Operation Sindoor have not been publicly detailed due to the sensitive nature of military operations, her leadership legacy stands as an example of how Indian women are taking centre stage in strategic and operational domains.
The operation, triggered by the tragic killing of 28 civilians in Pahalgam, was widely seen as a calibrated and precise response by India. It highlighted not just the strength of the nation’s military readiness but also the increasingly diverse leadership steering defence narratives.
What Makes Sophia Qureshi’s Role Unique?
Lt Col Qureshi is part of the Corps of Signals—a wing responsible for military communications, cybersecurity, and technical support. This domain is crucial in modern warfare, which is increasingly tech-driven, data-heavy, and reliant on fast-paced decision-making.
As a woman commanding in this technologically intense environment, she represents a dual revolution: one of gender inclusion and one of India’s growing sophistication in defence capabilities.
But it’s not just her technical expertise or rank that sets her apart. It’s her approach to leadership. In a media interview, she once said:
“If you put in your hard work, you can overcome any obstacle in the forces. There is no ceiling if you have the will.”
This belief, shaped through field postings, UN missions, and commanding multinational troops, defines her as a leader who is both grounded and visionary.
The Importance of Representation
In tribal and rural India, the idea of women taking up arms or donning the olive green uniform still meets resistance—not due to lack of courage, but due to societal norms. Lt Col Qureshi’s journey challenges these very norms. Her story sends a message to tribal, rural, and minority communities across India: national service is for everyone, and women can lead from the front.
This aligns with firstpeople.in’s mission to highlight voices and stories from the grassroots—stories that defy marginalization and build bridges to opportunity. Representation like Lt Col Qureshi’s is not just symbolic; it’s transformative. It inspires girls in villages, young women in tribal belts, and families skeptical of letting their daughters step beyond traditional roles.
Women in Defence: A New Era
The Indian government has taken several steps in recent years to integrate women more fully into the armed forces. From opening the doors of the National Defence Academy (NDA) to women in 2022, to enabling women to serve as fighter pilots, navy commanders, and now missile system specialists, change is underway.
However, structural barriers still exist. The number of women in commanding roles remains disproportionately low, and permanent commissions are still evolving in some sectors. In this light, trailblazers like Lt Col Qureshi are not just participants—they are pathbreakers. Their visibility makes future inclusion possible.
A Role Model for All
For young Indians—tribal, Dalit, minority, or rural—Lt Col Sophia Qureshi’s life story is a living lesson. It tells us that excellence has no gender, that courage knows no caste, and that service to the nation is the right of every citizen, regardless of background.
Her journey also teaches that leadership isn’t about domination—it’s about discipline, empathy, communication, and vision. And perhaps that’s what makes her leadership in a multinational exercise so significant—it reflects the India of the future: strong, inclusive, and united.
