Ayesha Aziz, the 25 -year-old from Kashmir who is the youngest female pilot in the country has become a source of inspiration and a beacon of empowerment for numerous Kashmiri women. 

In the year 2011, Aziz became the youngest student pilot to get a license at the age of 15 and underwent training to fly a MIG-29 jet at Russia’s Sokol airbase the following year.

She later graduated in aviation from the Bombay Flying Club (BFC) and obtained a commercial license in 2017. Aziz believes that Kashmiri women have progressed immensely in the last few years and have done exceptionally well in the field of education.

“I think Kashmiri women are doing very well, especially in education. Every other woman in Kashmir is doing her Masters or her doctorate. People of the Valley are doing great,” she said.