Indian Women Officers Lead Briefing on Operation Sindoor Strikes

Two senior women officers from the Indian Armed Forces, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sophia Qureshi, took center stage alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to brief the media on Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliatory strikes against terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The briefing, held in New Delhi, followed India’s precision attacks on nine terrorist sites, a response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack that claimed 26 lives.

Colonel Qureshi, addressing the press, detailed the operation’s objectives, stating that the strikes targeted locations in Pakistan and PoK to dismantle terrorist networks responsible for the Pahalgam massacre. “Operation Sindoor was launched to deliver justice to the victims of the Pahalgam attack,” Qureshi said. She confirmed that nine terror camps were destroyed, with no Pakistani military installations hit, emphasizing India’s restrained approach.

Foreign Secretary Misri, also speaking at the briefing, underscored Pakistan’s role as a haven for terrorists. The operation, described as “focused, measured, and non-escalatory,” avoided civilian casualties, according to Indian officials.

Pakistan’s response was swift, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif labeling the strikes an “act of war” and vowing retaliation. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, in a televised interview, indicated restraint contingent on India halting further actions, stating, “We will refrain from any action if India avoids any further action.”

The strikes prompted heightened security measures in India, with Uttar Pradesh declaring a red alert. Airports in Lahore and Sialkot were shut for 48 hours, and Indian security forces remained vigilant, with aircraft patrolling the Kashmir Valley.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval briefed U.S. counterpart Marco Rubio on the operation, reflecting India’s efforts to communicate its actions globally. Union Minister Piyush Goyal expressed national pride on X, posting, “Bharat Mata ki Jai,” in support of the military’s actions.