Two women officers of the Indian armed forces, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, were the faces of India’s press briefing regarding Operation Sindoor.
The significance of the decision to let two women represent the Indian armed forces lies in the fact that Operation Sindoor is India’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack in which men were singled out and executed, leaving women behind.
Who is Colonel Sofiya Quershi?
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, in 2016, made history after becoming the first woman officer to command an Indian Army contingent at a multinational military exercise, Force 18, i.e. India’s largest hosted foreign military drill, in Pune. The exercise involved 18 countries, and Lieutenant Colonel Qureshi was the only female officer to lead a contingent.
Also, in 2006, she served in the UN Peacekeeping Mission. She is an officer from the Corps of Signals, responsible for military communications and information systems.
Hailing from Gujarat, with military service running in her blood, her grandfather served in the Indian Army. She is married to an officer in the Mechanised Infantry.
Who is Wing Commander Vyomika Singh?
Vyomika Singh pursued her goal by joining the National Cadet Corps and later completed her engineering. She is the first in her family to join the armed forces. Wing Commander Singh has logged more than 2,500 flying hours. She has also played a major role in various rescue missions.
In 2020, she led a key rescue operation in Arunachal Pradesh, flying in extreme conditions to evacuate civilians. She showcased her strength and leadership in 2021 by joining an all-women tri-services expedition to Mt. Manirang (21,650 ft).
At the Operation Sindoor press conference, held after India’s response to the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofiya Quershi not only briefed the nation but also symbolised a new era in military communication and women’s growing role in defence leadership.
Must Watch: Jaish-e-Muhammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba hubs key targets of India’s attack on Pak
