New Delhi: In a striking demonstration of evolving gender roles in the Indian armed forces, several women pilots were actively involved in high-risk aerial missions during Operation Sindoor, India’s recent cross-border military offensive targeting Pakistan-based terror infrastructure.
Top defence sources revealed that the precision-led operation, which lasted nearly 88 hours earlier this month, resulted in the elimination of over 170 terrorists and 42 Pakistani military personnel. The mission was launched in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley, where 27 civilians, including Indian tourists and a Nepali national, were brutally killed and 13 others injured by Pakistan-backed militants.
Among the most impactful moments of the operation came on May 7, when Indian forces struck Jaish-e-Mohammed training camps in Pakistan’s Bahawalpur region, delivering a heavy blow to terrorist infrastructure. Follow-up airstrikes on May 9 and 10, involving BrahMos missile systems, severely damaged multiple Pakistani airbases, further crippling their military capability.
“Our targets were hit with extraordinary precision,” a senior defence official stated, describing the campaign as a major success shaped by India’s increasing investment in tactical readiness and strategic intelligence post-Doklam.
The offensive, though currently paused, has placed the Indian military on heightened alert amid concerns that Pakistan may attempt a retaliatory move. India lost seven personnel during the course of the operation.
Sources also called Pakistan’s decision to promote Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir to the ceremonial post of Field Marshal a “face-saving measure” following its significant military and strategic setbacks.
Operation Sindoor has not only underscored India’s sharpened strike capabilities but also marked a historic step in mainstreaming women in combat roles, with their commendable performance in critical sorties being lauded across defence circles.
