Speaking at the Chanakya Defence Dialogue: Young Leaders Forum held at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, Col Qureshi said the operation illustrated how future conflicts would be fought simultaneously across land, air, cyber, and information domains.
Operation Sindoor — A new chapter in India’s defence strategy
Col Qureshi explained that Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, 2025, was India’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22.
During the mission, Indian forces destroyed nine terrorist hideouts located inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The operation concluded on May 10, after meeting all its objectives — including the neutralization of senior Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba commanders.
Battling misinformation: Pakistan’s information warfare
Col Qureshi also revealed that Pakistan had launched an information warfare campaign during the operation.
“War today is not fought only with bunkers and bullets, but with bytes and bandwidth,” she said, urging India’s youth to strengthen their digital literacy and remain alert to misinformation and fake news.
Training for future conflicts
Highlighting the Army’s modernization efforts, she said that under the guidance of the Army Chief, young officers are being trained in Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and emerging technologies in partnership with IITs and DRDO.
“With 65% of our population under 35, India’s youth are our strategic reserve — the driving force behind our national security and innovation,” she emphasized.
Sofiya’s mantra: The ABC of KIDS
To inspire young Indians, Col Qureshi shared her formula for nation-building — the ABC of KIDS:
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Agile & Alert
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Bold & Brave
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Competent & Character
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Knowledge & Innovation
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Discipline & Dynamic
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Sincere & Contributor
She said that whether one is a soldier, teacher, coder, or designer, every Indian must contribute sincerely toward building a strong and resilient nation.
9 hideouts destroyed in 24 minutes
According to defence sources, intelligence from RAW and NTRO pinpointed 21 terrorist sites, of which nine were chosen as primary targets by a joint task force led by NSA Ajit Doval.
The Indian Air Force executed the strikes in just 24 minutes, destroying:
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Jaish-e-Mohammed’s headquarters in Bahawalpur
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Lashkar-e-Taiba’s base in Muzaffarabad
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Terror training camp in Kotli
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Lashkar headquarters in Muridke
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Hizbul Mujahideen base in Bagh
Global perspective
Col Qureshi also noted that more than 50 conflicts are currently active worldwide — including the Israel–Hamas and Russia–Ukraine wars — where young innovators are redefining modern warfare using drones, cyber tools, and cognitive strategies.
Concluding her address, she said,
“India’s youth are not only the soldiers of today but also the sentinels of our future.”
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