Operation Sindoor's Voice: Meet Wing Commander Vyomika Singh And Colonel Sofiya Qureshi

The special press conference by the Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday, following the successful execution of Operation Sindoor against Pakistan-based terrorist groups, marked a significant moment with two women officers leading the media briefing alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.

Wing Commander Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi jointly addressed the media on Operation Sindoor.

India successfully carried out missile strikes at nine terror targets in Pakistan. The late-night development, which came in response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 22, resulted in the death of at least 70 terrorists.

Days after promising a response over the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the Indian armed forces launched the attack at 1:44 a.m. on Wednesday at the identified sites, several videos of which have surfaced on social media.

During the MEA special briefing, Indian Air Force Wing Commander Vyomika Singh explained the details of the air strike, highlighting that Operation Sindoor was aimed at delivering justice for the victims of the Pahalgam attack. In a detailed report, she highlighted the targeted hideouts and listed 21 terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) identified by India.

Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, a helicopter pilot in the Indian Air Force, dreamed of flying since her school days. After joining the IAF, she earned a permanent commission on December 18, 2019. On Wednesday, she made headlines across India for briefing the nation about Operation Sindoor.

Singh joined the National Cadet Corps (NCC) during her student years and later completed her graduation in engineering. With her achievement, she became the first member of her family to serve in the armed forces. Commissioned as an IAF pilot, Singh has logged over 2,500 flying hours. She has experience in operating Chetak and Cheetah helicopters in challenging terrains.

In November 2020, Singh led a major rescue operation in Arunachal Pradesh. In 2021, Singh was part of a tri-services all-women mountaineering expedition to Mt Manirang, a 21,650-foot peak.

Meanwhile, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi also gained attention on Wednesday when she was spotted alongside Singh at the press conference. She comes from the Army’s Corps of Signals and has earned a reputation with several groundbreaking achievements. She became the first female officer to lead an Indian Army contingent in a multinational military drill. This exercise, named Exercise Force 18, was the largest foreign military exercise ever hosted by India, according to India Today. Held in Pune in 2016, Exercise Force 18 saw participation from 18 foreign countries, including ASEAN nations.

During the conference, she gave detailed insights into the operation of the identified terror camps and their involvement in specific terrorist attacks on India.