Operation Sindoor : Who's wing commander vyomika singh and karnal sofia qureshi
In a press conference held to brief the nation and the international community about the operation, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri was joined by two distinguished women officers: Colonel Sophia Qureshi of the Indian Army and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force. Their presence signaled not only a message of military precision but also the strength and professionalism of India’s women in uniform.
Who Are These Officers?
Colonel Sophia Qureshi – Breaking Barriers in the Army
Colonel Sophia Qureshi serves in the Indian Army’s Signal Corps, the vital communications backbone of the armed forces. She first came into the national spotlight in 2016, when she became the first female officer to lead a multinational military exercise. Representing India, she commanded a contingent among troops from 18 participating countries, marking a historic moment in Indian military leadership.
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh – A Skies Veteran
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh is a seasoned helicopter pilot in the Indian Air Force, with over 2,500 flying hours under her belt. Commissioned into the Air Force in 2004, she achieved the rank of Wing Commander in December 2017. Trained on both Cheetah and Chetak helicopters, Singh delivered the English-language portion of the press briefing, underscoring her role not just as a pilot but also as a key public face of the operation.
A Powerful Message Through Representation
The choice to have two women officers represent the armed forces at such a high-stakes briefing was widely seen as a strategic message of inclusivity, strength, and modernity. It also served to highlight India’s evolving military leadership, where women are now at the forefront of not only critical missions but also high-profile public communications.
The Strike and Its Aftermath
The strike targeted terror infrastructure believed to be directly involved in fomenting cross-border terrorism. While the Indian government has yet to release full details of casualties or infrastructure damage, officials stated that precision strikes were carried out, and that the mission was a "preemptive defensive measure."
Operation Sindoor is already being hailed as a bold and necessary counter-terror operation, and the leadership displayed during the press briefing has added to the nation's confidence in the armed forces.