Everything You Need to Know About the Two Women Officers Who Briefed on Operation Sindoor
- MGMMTeam
- May 10
- 3 min read
India initiated a precise and coordinated military operation early on May 7, 2025, under the codename Operation Sindoor. The operation targeted nine terrorist infrastructure sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), marking a direct response to the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, that claimed the lives of 26 civilians, including 25 Indians and one Nepali.
The strikes, according to official sources, were "targeted, controlled, and non-provocative," specifically aimed at terrorist camps while avoiding Pakistani military installations to prevent further escalation. Colonel Sophia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh provided a briefing on Operation Sindoor on Wednesday.
Operation Sindoor: A Precision Retaliatory Strike
The strikes commenced at 1:44 AM on May 7, 2025, targeting sites linked to terrorist organizations Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). Of the nine targets, four were in Pakistan—Bahawalpur, Muridke, Sialkot, and Tehra Kalan—while five were in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), including Muzaffarabad and Kotli. Key locations destroyed in the operation included JeM’s headquarters in Bahawalpur and LeT’s base in Muridke.
The attack used sophisticated French-origin SCALP cruise missiles, AASM Hammer precision bombs, and loitering munitions, all launched from Indian territory, ensuring Pakistani airspace remained unbreached. Rafale jets were deployed, and the Ministry of Defence reported that over 70 terrorists were killed and more than 60 injured, significantly disrupting the operations of the targeted groups.
Colonel Qureshi confirmed that the entire operation lasted 25 minutes, from 1:05 AM to 1:30 AM. She highlighted that reliable intelligence had confirmed the involvement of these sites in cross-border terrorism. Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally selected the operation’s codename, "Sindoor," symbolizing the red vermilion worn by married Hindu women, as a tribute to the widows created by the Pahalgam attack.
Who is Colonel Sophia Qureshi?
Colonel Sophia Qureshi, who spoke to the media on May 7, 2025, after India’s retaliatory strikes, is a highly decorated officer in the Indian Army’s Corps of Signals. Hailing from a military family in Gujarat, her grandfather served in the Indian Army. She holds a postgraduate degree in biochemistry and was commissioned through the Officers Training Academy. Throughout her distinguished career, Col. Qureshi has gained recognition for her leadership and operational expertise.
She made history as the first female officer to lead an Indian Army contingent at the multinational military exercise "Exercise Force 18," held in Pune, which involved 18 ASEAN Plus nations. Additionally, she was the only female contingent commander in the event. Her international experience includes serving as a military observer in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Congo in 2006, and she has continued contributing to peacekeeping operations since 2010. Domestically, Col. Qureshi has been part of counter-insurgency operations and flood relief efforts, earning numerous commendations. She is married to Major Tajuddin Qureshi of the Mechanised Infantry and is the mother of their son, Sameer. During the Operation Sindoor briefing, she emphasized that the operation's goal was to dismantle terrorist infrastructure and “break the backbone of terrorism.”
Who is Wing Commander Vyomika Singh?
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, who co-led the media briefing on Operation Sindoor, is a highly respected helicopter pilot in the Indian Air Force and a pioneering first-generation military officer. She was commissioned into the flying branch with a permanent commission on December 18, 2019. Singh holds an engineering degree and was actively involved in the National Cadet Corps (NCC) during her academic years, a formative experience that inspired her ambition to become a military aviator. Her name, Vyomika, meaning "daughter of the sky," has come to symbolize both her passion and her profession.
Having logged over 2,500 flying hours, Singh has piloted Chetak and Cheetah helicopters across some of India’s most rugged terrains, including Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast. In 2021, she took part in a tri-services all-women mountaineering expedition to Mt. Manirang, which reaches a height of 21,650 feet, earning praise from senior defense officials, including the Chief of Air Staff. Renowned for her bravery and composure under pressure, she affirmed during the May 7, 2025, briefing that India is fully prepared to respond to any provocations from Pakistan. She also emphasized Pakistan’s role in sustaining terror networks, reinforcing India’s justification for the precision strikes.
Women in Uniform Leading National Security Efforts
On May 7, 2025, Colonel Qureshi and Wing Commander Singh jointly led a media briefing, emphasizing India’s unwavering commitment and robust military strength. Their commanding presence highlighted the evolving role of women in India’s armed forces—not only as contributors but as strategic leaders. Their leadership in Operation Sindoor represents a historic shift, affirming that national defense knows no gender boundaries.
(Source: MSN, Hindustan Times, India Today)
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