Two Women Officers Led Briefing On India's Operation Sindoor; Who Are They?

India's briefing on 'Operation Sindoor' today, May 7, gave a strong and significant message as two women officers - Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi - led it, shedding light on the April 22 Pahalagam terror attack in which 26 people died and India's retaliatory response to Pakistan.

In a press release, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi announced that nine terrorist camps had been destroyed. She stated, "Terror targets were chosen based on credible intelligence and their involvement in cross-border terrorism. No military installation was targeted in Pakistan during Operation Sindoor."

Wing Commander Vyomika Singh added, "India has demonstrated considerable restraint in its response. However, the Indian Armed Forces are fully prepared to respond to any Pakistani misadventure intended to escalate the situation."

On December 18, 2019, Air Force Wing Commander Vyomika Singh officially received a permanent commission in the Army. She had joined the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and completed her engineering studies. She is now a distinguished helicopter pilot in the Indian Air Force.

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, the first woman officer to lead an Indian Army contingent in a multinational military exercise—among the largest ever held on Indian soil—is an officer in the Indian Army's Corps of Signals.

India's Operation 'Sindoor'

On May 6, India strategically carried out 24 missile strikes across nine locations—Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Bahawalpur, Rawalakot, Chakswari, Bhimber, Neelum Valley, Jhelum, and Chakwa. This counterattack underscored India’s zero tolerance for cross-border terrorism.

The strikes began at 1:05 a.m. on May 6 and lasted for 25 minutes. During this window, nine terror camps and training facilities were targeted using stand-off munitions such as the HAMMER bomb and SCALP missile, along with other precision weapons capable of hovering over a target area before detonation. According to the government, the attacks were synchronised to evade detection and maximise damage.

How the Families of Pahalgam Victims Reacted to Operation Sindoor

The families of the Pahalgam Victims expressed their gratitude towards the government for the operation. 

Pragati Jagdale, the wife of the victim Santosh Jagdale from Pune, Maharashtra, shared her views on Operation Sindoor. She epressed, "I cannot forget that day. I cry every day. We were waiting for Prime Minister Modi to take such action, and he has given them a befitting reply. Terrorists should be eliminated.”

She added, “It's a befitting reply after the way those terrorists erased the vermilion. On hearing the name of this operation, I got tears in my eyes. I sincerely thank the government."