New Delhi | May 8, 2025
In a powerful and precedent-setting judgment, the Supreme Court of India has cleared the decks for Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, allowing her to lead active combat operations under Operation Sindoor — India’s strategic military response to cross-border terrorism.
This comes after weeks of legal and political wrangling over her deployment in an offensive combat role. The court ruled in favor of national interest and operational autonomy, stating that “military leadership decisions cannot be held hostage to outdated notions of gender roles or internal bureaucracy.”
“Col. Qureshi has the full trust of her command, and her battlefield performance speaks for itself,” observed Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud during the hearing.
A Symbol of Strength Amid Conflict
With this verdict, Col. Qureshi becomes the first woman to officially lead a front-line strike unit in active Indo-Pak operations. She’s already been instrumental in coordinating logistics and strike plans targeting terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), and sources say her leadership has been pivotal in the recent success of the Bahawalpur and Muridke strikes.
This decision not only boosts the morale of the armed forces but also sends a strong message: India’s fight against terror knows no gender, only courage and competence.
