A gesture as symbolic as it was calculated, India selected two successful women officers to address the world on Operation Sindoor — India’s retaliatory air strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Indian Army Signal Corps Colonel Sofiya Quraishi and Indian Air Force Wing Commander Vyomika Singh stood alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in New Delhi, not just radiating military power but also female empowerment.
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Colonel Quraishi, a veteran officer who made history in 2016 by becoming the first woman to command a multinational military exercise, highlighted India’s accuracy and readiness. Her presence highlighted the operational strength of the Signal Corps, which is responsible for battlefield communication. Wing Commander Singh, a helicopter pilot with more than 2,500 hours of flying experience on Cheetahs and Chetaks, spoke to the media in English with ease and poise.
This selection of orators was no accident. The Indian government consciously sent a message: it gave equal representation to both those who suffer and those who protect. The 22 April Pahalgam attack, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, most of them husbands, left their wives in mourning. Women remained strong today, delivering India’s firm response.
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Responses flowed in on social media, welcoming the decision. Former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar had this to say, “This isn’t just a briefing, it’s a bold declaration. Our women lead from the front, in every battle, every mission.” AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj hailed the calm and symbolism of the moment, and former Army officer Maj Gen (Dr) Yash Mor had a personal stake in saying, “She’s a professional officer… her husband is currently commanding a frontline combat unit.
Operation Sindoor is not only a military operation but also a declaration of national will, and with this briefing, India informed the world that women are not only victims when it comes to terror; they are leaders in its defeat.
