Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force—have emerged as key figures behind Operation Sindoor, the bold counter-terror mission launched in response to the deadly attack on Indian pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam region.
Their leadership and presence in high-level briefings not only spotlight India’s growing military assertiveness but also signify a powerful shift toward gender-inclusive command roles in national security operations.
The Face of Tactical Command: Colonel Sofiya Qureshi
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi has long been recognized as a pioneer in the Indian Army. Commissioned in the Corps of Signals in the early 1990s, she rose through the ranks by proving her strategic expertise and operational leadership. She made headlines in 2016 as the first Indian woman to command a military contingent at a multinational exercise, Force 18, held in Pune. At the time, she led a team of 40 soldiers in the largest joint exercise ever conducted by ASEAN Plus countries.
A recipient of multiple commendations, Colonel Qureshi has also served with distinction in the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo. Her deep understanding of battlefield communication and coordination makes her a vital asset in operations like Sindoor, which require quick, accurate responses and inter-agency coordination across terrain and airspace.
Coming from a family with a military background, Colonel Qureshi’s rise in the ranks symbolizes more than personal achievement—it reflects the evolution of the Indian Army into a more inclusive and dynamic force ready to integrate talent from all walks of life.
Skies of Strength: Wing Commander Vyomika Singh
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh brings a similar story of grit, discipline, and excellence to the Indian Air Force. An engineering graduate and a product of the National Cadet Corps, Singh broke family and social stereotypes to become one of the IAF’s rising stars. She is known for her precise flight operations, planning skills, and critical decision-making during emergency responses.
As part of Operation Sindoor, Wing Commander Singh has played a strategic role in coordinating air surveillance, logistics drops, and precision targeting. Her responsibilities also include overseeing the operational briefings, representing the Air Force’s role in surgical airstrikes that reportedly destroyed nine terror camps in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack.
She represents a new era of Indian women military leaders—fearless, focused, and at the forefront of combat-oriented missions that once excluded women entirely.
Read More: Operation Sindoor : India Strikes Nine Sites in Pakistan Weeks after Kashmir Terrorist Attack
Operation Sindoor: A Coordinated Strike
Operation Sindoor, India’s latest high-impact military response, was launched in retaliation to the killing of Indian pilgrims in a terror attack on a bus returning from the Amarnath Yatra. Within hours, Indian intelligence pinpointed multiple terror camps operating in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Over 24 coordinated air and missile strikes were carried out on at least nine terror camps, resulting in the reported elimination of more than 70 terrorists.
Both Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh featured prominently in military briefings about the operation. Their involvement highlighted India’s integrated tri-services approach, where women officers are no longer confined to support roles but are now critical in planning and executing sensitive missions.
Symbol of National Pride
The emergence of these two officers in leadership positions during such a high-profile operation is more than symbolic. It signals a strong institutional shift in the Indian Armed Forces, affirming that competence and capability—not gender—are the defining traits of leadership.
Their visibility in Operation Sindoor also serves to inspire young Indian women who aspire to serve in uniform. They prove that the armed forces are not just a career path for men, but a domain where determined women can command with courage and conviction.
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh have become the defining faces of a new chapter in India’s defense story. As Indian women military leaders, their role in Operation Sindoor showcases India’s evolving military ethos—one that values skill, leadership, and strategic insight above all else.
In leading from the front, they have not only made history but have reshaped the future of women in India’s defense forces.
