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This Pilot Becomes The First Indian Woman To Lead A Combat Unit, Placed On The Border With Pakistan

Shaliza Dhimi. (Twitter/@SpokespersonMoD)

JAKARTA - The Indian Air Force (IAF) has selected a female officer to lead the frontline combat unit, the first for women in the country.

As the world celebrates International Women's Day, Shaliza Dhimi, the IAF Group Captain, has been appointed to lead a missile squadron in the western sector, near the Indian-Pakistan border in northern Myanmar.

The rank of Group Captain in the IAF is equivalent to Colonel in the Army. Dhami (41) is currently placed in the operations branch of the front line command headquarters, reported The National News March 8.

First joined the Indian Air Force as a helicopter pilot in 2003, he now has more than 2,800 flight hours.

Not only that, Dhami is a qualified flying instructor and has carried out several search, rescue and flood relief missions. Three years ago, she made history as the first female officer to become flight commander.

"Before being elected by the IAF as the first woman to take command of the frontline combat unit, she also served as the helicopter unit's aviation commander in the western sector. She has also been praised by the air force commander," an officer quoted the Times of India as saying.

Meanwhile, for Harkesh Dhani and Dev Kumari, this is an extraordinary moment of joy and the inability to find words to describe how proud their daughter, Dhimi.

"I didn't get the right words to describe the current feelings. We are very proud of him. What makes him even more special is Day Perempuan's opportunity. I hope he will inspire thousands of other women to achieve what they want," explained Harkesh (66) with teary eyes, while speaking with The Indian Express at their residence in Laxmi Nagar.

"Except for the fact that we never stopped him from doing anything and never interfered in his choice, we have no other contribution. It was all hard work and dedication," continued Harkesh.

Struggling to hold back his tears, Harkesh recalls that when it was time to send Shaliza to the school, everyone suggested that he choose a high-end Monastery school. However, he decided not to.

"I only had a bicycle at that time. Meanwhile, the children who studied at the Monastery school, their parents came to take them in luxury cars. I decided that my children will study at school where ordinary people like me study. If I put it in the monasteries, he might have a sense of inferiority. So, we put it in public school. And see where he has reached today," he recalled.

Apart from Air Force pilots, Dhani has also been a hockey player, painter and dancer. He is married to Wing IAF Commander Vineet Joshi, who comes from Uttarakhand. The couple have two sons.

"We have never forced our daughter to get married. It was her decision when she wanted it and with the man of her choice. We have never interfered in her life," said Harkesh.

Harkesh said the only message to parents across the country was that they had to give their daughter "wings" to "fly".

"Never force them to get married. Never force your decisions on them. Never make career choices for them, let them do what they want," he ordered.

It is known, there are 18 women flying fighter aircraft in the IAF. In addition, there are also more than 145 women pilot helicopters and transport planes. At the same time, about 108 women have also been approved for promotion to the rank of Colonel for combat assistance positions.

India is known to have appointed female officers since the early 1990s. Their number is more than 3,900 out of 65,000 officer cadres. Separately, there are around 1,670 female doctors, 190 dentists, and 4,750 nurses in the military medical flow

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