Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sophia Qureshi spearheaded the Indian government’s briefing regarding ‘Operation Sindoor’.
India’s briefing on ‘Operation Sindoor’ today conveyed a powerful and important message as two women officers – Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sophia Qureshi – took the forefront, detailing the military’s precise strikes on terrorist targets in Pakistan in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalagam terror attack that resulted in 26 fatalities. Alongside the name ‘Operation Sindoor’ – honoring the women who lost their husbands in the attack – the decision to have women officers lead the briefing was commended as a significant gesture.
Colonel Sophia Qureshi stated, ‘Terror targets were selected based on reliable intelligence regarding their involvement in cross-border terrorism. No military installations in Pakistan were targeted during ‘Operation Sindoor.’ She also reported the destruction of nine terrorist camps.
Colonel Sophia Qureshi
She is a distinguished officer in the Indian Army’s Corps of Signals and was the first woman officer to command an Indian Army contingent during a multinational military exercise in Pune, one of the largest foreign military drills ever held on Indian territory.
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh remarked, ‘India has shown remarkable restraint in its response. Nevertheless, the Indian Armed Forces are fully equipped to address any Pakistani provocations that may escalate the situation.’
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh
She is a notable helicopter pilot in the Indian Air Force (IAF), having joined the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and completed her engineering education. She received a permanent commission in the flying branch on December 18, 2019, and has flown helicopters like the ‘Chetak’ and ‘Cheetah’ in some of India’s most demanding terrains, including high-altitude regions such as Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast. She has also participated in numerous rescue operations.