On May 7, 2025, two women officers of the Indian Armed Forces Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force jointly briefed the official media on ‘Operation Sindoor,’ India’s targeted strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam. This moment marked a historic and symbolically powerful display of leadership, showcasing India’s commitment to gender inclusivity and its unwavering stance against terrorism.
Colonel Sofia Qureshi
Trailblazer in the Indian Army Corps of Signals, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, has long championed innovation and advanced ideas in international peacekeeping. A Gujarati by origin and a postgraduate in biochemistry, she carries a proud legacy of military service – her grandfather served in the Indian Army, her husband is an officer in the Mechanized Infantry, and her great-grandmother was a freedom fighter who fought alongside Rani Laxmibai. For Colonel Qureshi, serving the nation is not just a duty—it runs in her blood.
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi was commissioned into the Indian Army in 1990. She made history in 2016 by becoming the first woman officer to command an Indian Army unit during the multinational Exercise Force 18. At just 35 years old, she stood out as the only woman contingent commander – a testament to both India’s strides in gender inclusion within the armed forces and her own exceptional leadership capabilities. She served in humanitarian missions and ceasefire monitoring roles during United Nations peacekeeping operations, most notably in Congo in 2006. This international exposure significantly broadened her strategic perspective and refined her operational insights.
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, a distinguished helicopter ace in the Indian Air Force, exemplifies extraordinary courage and piloting skill during missions across some of India’s most challenging terrains. Commissioned into the IAF in 2004, she earned a permanent commission in 2019. Over the course of her career, she has logged more than 2,500 flying hours in Chetak and Cheetah helicopters, operating extensively in the Northeast and Jammu & Kashmir regions.
Before commissioning into the Indian Air Force, Vyomika Singh was actively involved with the National Cadet Corps (NCC) while pursuing her engineering degree—a path she chose with a singular goal: to become a pilot. As the first in her family to join the armed forces, her enlistment marked a defining milestone, both personally and socially, symbolizing a break from convention and a leap toward a life of service and courage.
Vyomika Singh’s expertise came to the forefront during high-risk rescue operations, most notably the 2020 Arunachal Pradesh mission, where she led life-saving efforts in extreme weather and unforgiving terrain. Beyond her aviation duties, she demonstrated remarkable leadership and courage by participating in the 2021 all-women tri-services expedition to Mt. Manirang, scaling the 21,650-foot peak—a feat underscoring her physical resilience and pioneering spirit.
The presence of Wing Commander Singh at the Operation Sindoor briefing, alongside Colonel Qureshi, demonstrated the growing number of women achieving operational and leadership roles within the Indian Armed Forces.
Strategic Accuracy and Resolution in Operation Sindoor
The military response to the Pahalgam terror attack led to a precise and well-organized tri-service military operation called Operation Sindoor. The operation targeted nine terrorist camps associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Between 1:05 AM and 1:30 AM IST on May 7, 2025, the Indian Army, along with the Air Force and Navy, executed 24 missile strikes with high accuracy. The military forces deployed SCALP cruise missiles, HAMMER precision weapons for hard targets, and loitering munitions for terminal strikes and surveillance missions. The operation resulted in the death of over 70 terrorists, with more than 60 others suffering injuries, leading to a significant setback in their operational capabilities.
The operation focused on extreme infrastructure targets, limiting strikes to precise but non-escalatory actions to avoid collateral damage to Pakistani civilian or military targets. The briefing with Wing Commander Singh and Colonel Qureshi included numerous video images and maps, showcasing the precision of the strikes and providing insight into the operation’s objectives.
Having two women officers lead the briefing was both symbolic and unprecedented, underscoring India’s commitment to gender equality in the armed forces. The operation was also dedicated to the widows of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, with the name ‘Sindoor’ (vermilion or red, a symbol of married women) serving as a poignant tribute. Their professionalism and authoritative presence added credibility and clarity to India’s message on the international stage, highlighting the growing roles and leadership of women in operational and strategic military positions.
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh are not only pioneers in the Indian military but also leaders in a larger movement toward a more diverse and merit-based military, where gender equality is truly a reality. Through Operation Sindoor, India has demonstrated its commitment to empowering future generations of military personnel, particularly women, in combat and strategic roles. The country’s military future is not only secure but also dynamic, diverse, and limitless. By breaking stereotypes, India is inspiring more individuals to aspire, lead, and serve with the conviction that everyone, regardless of gender, can play a crucial role in shaping the nation’s defense and security.
