Jammu & Kashmir

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh embody the face of modern Indian military leadership in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Highlights:

• Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh lead official military briefing on Operation Sindoor.

• Operation launched in response to April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26.

• Colonel Qureshi is the first Indian woman to command an army contingent at a multinational exercise.

• Wing Commander Singh symbolizes India’s growing inclusion of women in frontline military roles.

• The name ‘Sindoor’ honors the grief and sacrifice of the victims’ families.

• New Delhi, May 2025: In a powerful message of strength and inclusivity, two senior women officers — Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh — led the government’s military briefing on Operation Sindoor, the precision counter-strike launched by India following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that claimed 26 lives.

The operation, jointly executed by the Army, Navy, and Air Force, targeted terrorist infrastructure across the Line of Control. It not only marked a strategic military response but also signaled a shift in how India communicates its resolve — this time, through the confident voices of two women in uniform.

Colonel Qureshi, a decorated officer from Vadodara, addressed the nation in Hindi. Her calm and assertive delivery explained how India’s forces eliminated specific terror launchpads with surgical precision. She has previously served in United Nations peacekeeping missions and made history in 2016 as the first woman to lead an Indian Army contingent in a multinational military exercise.

Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, addressing the press in English, emphasized the clarity of India’s intent and the message to those threatening national security. Her name, meaning “one who belongs to the sky,” aligns poetically with her journey in the Air Force, where she’s become a symbol of aspiration for young women across the country.

The choice of the operation’s name — “Sindoor” — carries deep symbolic weight. It refers to the red vermilion worn by married women in India, representing the loss experienced by the widows of the fallen. It’s not just a military mission — it’s a statement of honor, remembrance, and resilience.

Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Upendra Dwivedi stated, “This operation was a joint effort across forces. The leadership shown by Colonel Qureshi and Wing Commander Singh reflects the future of Indian defense forces — precise, inclusive, and unyielding.”

The presence of these two officers at the forefront of national communication sends a dual message: India’s defense strategy is evolving — and women are not just part of the narrative, they are leading it.