Op Sindoor marks combat debut for 2 women colonels

Women Colonels Commanded Two Of The 25-Odd Air Defence Units That Thwarted Pak's Attacks

- Rahul Singh

NEW DELHI: Operation Sindoor — India's retaliation against Pakistan for the Pahalgam terror strike — served as a rite of passage for two women commanding officers who were at the centre of the army's muscular air defence (AD) that countered Pakistan's missile and drone attacks on multiple Indian military installations, airbases and cities during the May 7-10 clash between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, people aware of the matter said on Friday.

The women colonels commanded two of the 25-odd Indian Army AD units that thwarted the enemy's unceasing aerial attacks on military and civilian areas, including religious places, the people added asking not to be named.

The operation marked the maiden live combat exposure for the army's women commanding officers (COS).

One of the women COs led her AD unit at Pathankot in Punjab; the other at Suratgarh in Rajasthan, HT learns. Both cities were among the locations that the Pakistani forces attempted to target along India's western front, but India's resilient AD shield fended off the attacks.

"The women COs were in the thick of the action and their leadership was commendable during the operation. They assumed the command of their units barely two years ago," said one of the people cited above.

The two COs are the only women in their units, said a second person. An AD unit has around 800 soldiers.

The army currently inducts women Agniveers in its personnel below officer rank (PBOR) cadre only in the Corps of Military Police.