Zaheer Ahmad Babar

Air Chief Marshal
Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu
NI(M) HJ HI(M) SI(M) TI(M)
Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu NI(M) HJ HI(M) SI(M) TI(M)
	ACM Zaheer
16th Chief of Air Staff
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 19 March 2021
President	Arif Alvi ; Asif Ali Zardari
Prime Minister	Imran Khan; Shehbaz Sharif; Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar (Care Taker); Shehbaz Sharif
Preceded by	ACM Mujahid Anwar Khan
Personal details
Born	16 April 1965 (age 60); Sidh, Punjab, Pakistan
Alma mater	Combat Commanders' School (PAK); Command & Staff College (UK); National Defence University (PAK); Royal College of Defence Studies (UK);
Military service
Allegiance	Pakistan
Branch/service	Pakistan Air Force
Years of service	1986 – present
Rank	Air Chief Marshal
Commands	DCAS (Administration); DCAS (Air Defence); ACAS (Training Officers); ACAS (Ops Req & Develop); DG Projects; DG Air Force Strategic Command; Additional Secretary (II), Ministry of Defence; PAF Base Minhas; 15th Squadron (Cobras);
Battles/wars	2022 Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan; 2024 Iran–Pakistan border skirmishes; Afghanistan–Pakistan clashes (2024–present); 2024 Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan; 2025 India-Pakistan standoff; 2026 Afghanistan–Pakistan war;
Awards	See list

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Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu NI(M) HJ HI(M) SI(M) TI(M) (Urdu: ظہیر احمد بابر سدھو born 16 April 1965) is a Pakistani military officer who is currently serving as the Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force, in office since 19 March 2021. On 19 March 2021, Babar took over command of the Pakistan Air Force from his predecessor ACM Mujahid Anwar Khan.

Zaheer was granted a one-year extension to his tenure on 17 March 2024, making him the second chief in Pakistan Air Force history to receive such an extension after Anwar Shamim, who received an extension during the military government of General Zia Ul Haq in 1981.

In November 2024, the Government of Pakistan revised the tenure of the service chiefs of the Pakistan Armed Forces from three to five years, which consequently extended Sidhu's term as Air Chief until March 2026.

On 5 December 2025, Sidhu's term as Air Chief was once again extended for the period of two years till March 2028.

Under Sidhu's command, Pakistan Air Forces has carried out five cross-border airstrikes against various terror groups involved in the activity against Pakistani state. This includes 2022 Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan, 2024 Pakistani airstrikes in Iran, March 2024 Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan and December 2024 Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan, 2025 PAF Airstrikes in Afghanistan. Under Air Chief's Sidhu's watch PAF drone and jets also seen action during 2025 Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict.

In October 2025 PAF carried out precision strikes on various Taliban military camps across Pakistan-Afghanistan border in the Afghan bordering provinces of Khost, Kunar, Paktika and Paktia while also striking deeper Taliban locations in Kabul and Kandahar who have been actively supporting terrorist groups against Pakistan. It was first time in the history of Afghanistan-Pakistan relations that Pakistani jets attacked Afghanistan's capital Kabul. The PAF's October 2025 airstrikes reportedly targetted chief of anti-Pakistan TTP who narrowly escaped PAF strikes.

In May 2025 during India-Pakistan conflict, the PAF under the command of Air Chief Sidhu claimed to have shot down 6 Indian jets including 3 French-made Rafales, 1 Mikoyan MiG-29 , 1 Mirage 2000 and 1 SU-30MKI.