New Delhi: In a historic moment of strategic messaging and symbolic assertion, the Indian government chose two accomplished women officers—Colonel Sofiya Quraishi of the Indian Army and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force—to address the media following India’s retaliatory strikes under Operation Sindoor. The operation, targeting nine terror bases across Pakistan, was a direct response to the April 22nd attack at Baisaran, Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 Indian soldiers.
Colonel Quraishi, an officer from the Indian Army’s Signal Corps—the communication backbone of the armed forces—took the podium after Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s initial remarks. Known for her pioneering role in 2016 when she became the first woman officer to lead a multinational military exercise, Quraishi once again stood at the forefront, representing not only military precision but also the growing leadership of women in uniform.
Alongside her stood Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, a helicopter pilot with over 2,500 flying hours on the Cheetah and Chetak helicopters. Commissioned in 2004 and promoted to Wing Commander in 2017, Singh delivered her part of the briefing in English with crisp authority, underlining the IAF’s role in the precision operation.
The choice to feature these two women officers wasn’t coincidental. It signaled India’s calibrated resolve—a response led by women in uniform, echoing the voices of the widowed families left behind after the April 22nd massacre.
The public response was swift and admiring. Former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar praised the duo, stating, “This isn’t just a briefing, it’s a bold declaration.” AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj called it a “statement of India’s strength.” Retired Major General Yash Mor lauded Quraishi’s professionalism, recalling her days as a Major leading an international training contingent. He also noted that her husband currently commands a frontline combat unit—underscoring a family legacy of military excellence.
Operation Sindoor’s press briefing did more than share tactical updates. It marked a moment of national pride, where competence, courage, and communication converged—and women in olive and blue led from the front.
