Sofiya Qureshi
Indian Army officer and peacekeeping commander
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, VSM is a senior officer in the Indian Army. She is notable for being the first woman to lead an Indian contingent in a United Nations peacekeeping mission and she gained national attention for her role during the 2025 India–Pakistan conflict.
Sofiya Qureshi | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | |
| Allegiance |  India |
Branch |  Indian Army |
Rank |  Colonel |
| Service number | IC-74110K[1] |
| Unit | Army Signal Corps |
| Commands | UN Peacekeeping Force (DRC) Indian Cyber Defence Command Indian Rapid Deployment Unit |
Conflicts | 2025 India–Pakistan conflict |
| Awards | VSM Special Service Medal Operation Vijay Medal Operation Parakram Medal Sainya Seva Medal Videsh Seva Medal 75th Independence Anniversary Medal 20 Years Long Service Medal 9 Years Long Service Medal United Nations Medal Gandhi Peace Award (2019) |
| Other work | Guest faculty at National Defence College |
Early life and education
Sofiya Qureshi was born in Vadodara to Mohammad Qureshi and Amina Qureshi.[2] She earned a degree in biotechnology at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda.[3][4]
Military education
- Officers Training Academy, Chennai - 1999[5]
- Defence Services Staff College, Wellington – Master’s in Defence and Strategic Studies (2005–06)[6]
- National Defence College, New Delhi (2018) – Strategic cybersecurity[7]
Military career
Commissioned in 1999 after graduating from the Officers Training Academy[8] into the Army Signal Corps, Qureshi served in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and North-East India. In 2001, she helped develop the Army’s first mobile digital communication network.[9]
In 2016, as a colonel, she led 40 Indian troops during exercise Force 18—the first woman to lead an Indian training contingent.[10]
Role in 2025 India–Pakistan conflict
Qureshi led press conferences along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri about Operation Sindoor.
Recognition and awards
- Global Peace Gandhi Award (2019) [11]
- First Provost Marshall in her unit[12][clarification needed]