Women Lead the Charge: India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’ Briefing Sends Powerful Message
India's 'Operation Sindoor' briefing is led by Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, pointing to precision strikes against terror camps in Pakistan and reflecting strength and tribute through feminine leadership.
New Delhi | May 7, 2025
In a gesture heavy with symbolism and strategic consideration, India’s military briefing for ‘Operation Sindoor’ was conducted by two pioneering women officers—Wing Commander Vyomika Singh from the Indian Air Force and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army—representing a first for the country’s military communications.
The briefing, which was conducted in New Delhi, detailed the precision strikes that were carried out against nine terror-related targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. The operation has been dubbed ‘Operation Sindoor’ as a somber tribute to the women who lost their husbands in the attack.
A Bold and Symbolic Move
Speaking to the press after Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi said, “The targets of terror were selected on the basis of credible intelligence and their role in cross-border terrorism. No military facility in Pakistan was hit as a part of Operation Sindoor.” She further asserted that nine large terror camps were effectively nullified during the strikes.
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh further added, “India has exercised significant restraint. But the Indian Armed Forces are fully prepared to respond in a decisive manner to any Pakistani misadventure.”
The choice to allow two women officers to command the country’s formal military response was widely welcomed as a bold statement of gender equality and strategic vision. It also reflected the emotional essence of the operation’s title—Sindoor—emphasizing the human toll of terrorism and strength of those left behind.
Meet the Officers Behind the Briefing
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh is a seasoned helicopter pilot in the IAF, flying the ‘Chetak’ and ‘Cheetah’ helicopters in India’s most demanding high-altitude regions. She was commissioned permanently in 2019 and has been involved in several key rescue missions in Jammu & Kashmir and the Northeast.
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi is a member of the Indian Army’s Corps of Signals and has created history as the first woman officer to command an Indian Army contingent during a multinational exercise in Indian territory—firmly establishing herself as a role model of the defence forces.
Inside Operation Sindoor
The attack, which started at 1:05 AM on May 6, took a mere 25 minutes, but the damage caused was catastrophic. India carried out 24 surgical missile strikes using stand-off weaponry like the SCALP and HAMMER bombs, striking targets in Muzaffarabad, Bahawalpur, Rawalakot, Jhelum, and Neelum Valley, among many others.
As per official sources, more than 70 terrorists were killed, and over 60 were injured. The attacks were coordinated to evade premature discovery and achieve maximum impact.
“This wasn’t merely a military strike; it was a calibrated message,” stated a high-level government official. “It conveyed India’s strategic patience, its red lines, and its willingness to strike with precision at threats.”
Pakistan’s Retaliation and Civilian Losses
Pakistan retaliated with indiscriminate shelling along the Line of Control (LoC), where 10 civilians were killed in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir, two of whom were children. The action was denounced fiercely by Indian authorities as a reckless and disproportionate exercise of force.
While India stuck to its position of “measured, non-escalatory, and proportionate response”, the dual leadership of Colonel Qureshi and Wing Commander Singh has not only brought attention to India’s military strength, but also to the shifting face of its defense leadership.
