It was a pleasant surprise to watch two young Indian women in the military uniforms briefing the world about India’s strikes on nine terrorist locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7 morning. It was an unusual moment of pride for India as Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force co- anchored the global media briefing on Operation Sindoor along with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
Their presence at the forefront of high-stakes communication heralded the rise of Indian women in national security leadership. Col. Sofiya and Wg Cdr Vyomika not merely briefed the media; rather they embodied a new narrative of Indian military leadership.
Naturally then, these two faces have generated widespread public interests in knowing who they really are.
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi: A Trailblazer in Military Communications
35-year-old Col. Sofiya Qureshi belongs to the Indian Army’s Corps of Signals with expertise in military communications and information systems. This young woman officer has an impeccable track record as being the first Indian woman officer to command a military contingent at a multinational exercise – Exercise Force 18, hosted in Pune. It was a major achievement as she led the Indian contingent of 40 members in the exercise with 18 countries participating in it.
This postgraduate in biochemistry earned fame after she was selected to serve in the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Congo in 2006. Col Sofia now has over six years of experience in peacekeeping operations.
Sofiya inherited this passion for valour from her grandfather, who was an Army veteran. That also was the reason why she chose to marry an armed force officer from the Mechanised Infantry.
Col Sofiya’s role in co-leading the briefing signified the dawn of a new era in Indian defence strategy.
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh: Skies of Grit and Grace
Wg Cdr Vyomika Singh’s presence representing the Indian Air Force at the briefing complimented the woman power in military leadership. She was part of that defining moment that showcased the rise of women as leaders of India’s military communication and public engagement strategy. Her presence, alongside Col Sofiya Qureshi, was not ceremonial but a reflection of India’s intent to present a forward-looking perspective on national security on the global stage.
Wg Cdr Vyomika’s childhood dream to fly landed her into the Air Force. She owns a splendid record in flying helicopters such as the Chetak and Cheetah for over 2,500 hours. It makes her unmatched in flying in these high-altitude regions.
This is not her only accomplishments of valour. She has participated in helicopter operations in some of the most challenging and dangerous terrains, including Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast.
Commissioned under the 21st SSC (Women) Flying Pilot Course on December 18, 2004, Vyomika received a permanent commission in 2019–an exceptional accomplishment for women officers in the Indian Air Force.
Vyomika has led numerous high-profile rescue missions in her career and played a critical role in evacuating stranded people during the 2020 disaster in Arunachal Pradesh. In 2021, she conquered the daunting peak of Mount Manirang at 21,650 feet and also participated in an all-women mountain expedition involving the three Indian armed forces.
In this way, the inclusion of these women officers in the international media briefing symbolizes professionalism in India’s armed forces.
Join Us on WhatsApp