Major Abhilasha Barak serving with the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, has been awarded the prestigious 2025 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award.
Currently deployed with the Indian Battalion in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Major Barak leads the Female Engagement Team as its Commander. She is also recognised as the first woman combat helicopter pilot in the Indian Army.
Major has emerged as a pioneering figure in Indian military aviation as the first woman combat helicopter pilot in the Indian Army. Commissioned into the Army Air Defence Corps in September 2018, she later earned her combat aviator qualification after completing intensive training at the Combat Army Aviation Training School in Nashik in 2022. Trained to operate sophisticated platforms such as the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv and the armed Rudra helicopter, she has demonstrated remarkable proficiency in both aviation operations and peacekeeping assignments.
Her ongoing deployment in southern Lebanon reflects the Indian Army’s growing emphasis on gender-inclusive peacekeeping initiatives. Leading the Female Engagement Team (FET), Major Barak has played a vital role in building connections with local communities by addressing protection concerns, encouraging women’s participation in peacebuilding efforts, and strengthening trust in regions where cultural sensitivities often restrict interaction with male soldiers.
With this achievement, Major Abhilasha Barak has become the third Indian peacekeeper to receive the prestigious honour. Previously, Major Suman Gawani was recognised in 2019 for her contribution to the UN Mission in South Sudan, while Major Radhika Sen received the award in 2023 for her service with the UN Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Indian Army has contributed greatly to United Nations peacekeeping missions by sending troops to conflict zones worldwide. Indian soldiers maintain peace, protect civilians, provide medical and humanitarian aid, and support stability in war-affected countries. India is one of the largest and most respected contributors to UN peacekeeping operations.
