Subhechcha Ganguly 
Operation Sindoor, India’s robust military retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack, has gone down in history not just for its strategic execution but also for marking a watershed moment in the Indian Army’s gender integration journey. For the first time, two women commanding officers (COs) led frontline air defence (AD) units in live combat during the intense May 7–10 conflict with Pakistan.
According to sources familiar with the operation, the two women officers, each commanding a unit of approximately 800 soldiers, played pivotal roles in defending Indian military installations, airbases, and civilian areas from a barrage of missile and drone attacks launched by Pakistani forces. One officer was stationed at Pathankot in Punjab and the other at Suratgarh in Rajasthan—both among the key targets of Pakistan’s failed offensive.
“Their leadership during Operation Sindoor was exceptional. Despite having assumed command only two years ago, both COs displayed remarkable composure and tactical acumen under pressure,” a defence official said. The officers are the sole women in their respective units.
The combat engagement was part of India’s swift and forceful response to the May 2023 terror strike in Pahalgam, which saw the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force (IAF) target nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Over 100 terrorists were eliminated in the early hours of May 7, triggering four days of retaliatory military actions from both sides before a ceasefire agreement was reached on May 10.
During this brief but intense confrontation, the IAF conducted precision strikes on several Pakistani military installations while thwarting enemy attempts to target key Indian locations including Srinagar, Jammu, Chandigarh, Amritsar, Suratgarh, and Bhuj, among others.
The conflict also tested the mettle of India’s youngest soldiers — the Agniveers. More than 3,000 Agniveers, mostly around 20 years old and recruited under the Agnipath scheme, were deployed on critical air defence duties. They successfully operated radars, communication systems, and a wide range of weapon platforms, including the indigenously developed Akashteer air defence control system, which formed the backbone of India’s AD grid.
These Agniveers manned missile launchers, fired shoulder-mounted weapons, and handled upgraded artillery systems such as L-70s, Zu-23-2Bs, and advanced surface-to-air missile platforms, performing side by side with seasoned troops.
The Indian Army began appointing women COs in 2023, in a move aimed at promoting gender parity and expanding command opportunities for women officers. Currently, around 120 women serve as COs, with 60% deployed in operational zones across India’s Northern and Eastern Commands.
Operation Sindoor not only highlighted India’s readiness and resolve in the face of cross-border aggression but also underscored the growing role of women and young recruits in shaping the future of the nation’s military leadership.
