Severe weather conditions have forced the suspension of the operation to recover the body of Pakistani mountaineer Asma Mushtaq from Camp 3 on Spantik peak. The rescue team was compelled to retreat due to heavy snowfall and strong winds, halting their progress near Camp 3 and returning to Camp 2.
High-altitude porters were expected to reach Camp 3 and bring Mushtaq’s body down to base camp by Monday. Meanwhile, coordination between the Gilgit-Baltistan government and the FCNA has authorized helicopter support as an alternative option for the recovery. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is being kept informed about the situation, with assurances that all possible measures will be taken under the challenging circumstances.
Mushtaq, a 34-year-old doctor, passed away on August 20 at an altitude of around 6,400 metres while descending from the 7,027-metre summit of Spantik, also known as Golden Peak, located in the Shigar district of Gilgit-Baltistan. She had successfully reached the summit but developed a serious high-altitude medical emergency during her descent. Despite assistance from her mountain guide Akbar Ali and another expedition guide, Muhammad Amin, she could not be saved.
The recovery operation has been especially difficult due to the extreme altitude and ongoing adverse weather conditions, including continuous heavy snowfall and strong winds. A six-member team of high-altitude porters reached Camp 2 and attempted to advance towards Camp 3 but had to retreat due to the worsening weather. Baltistan Division Commissioner Kamal Khan confirmed that the team could not safely remain at Camp 2 and returned safely to base camp, with further attempts awaiting a suitable weather window.
In a significant development, a helicopter has been authorized on humanitarian grounds to assist with the recovery. However, the extreme altitude complicates direct aerial retrieval. The Alpine Club of Pakistan explained that the body must first be brought down from the high-altitude site before helicopter transport can be considered.
The recovery operation is being coordinated by Mushtaq’s expedition company in collaboration with the tourism department, local authorities, and the Alpine Club of Pakistan. The club’s General Secretary, Ayaz Shigri, noted that the team includes climbers from various expeditions and emphasized that the operation was halted due to heavy snowfall. He also highlighted that the Alpine Club is not a dedicated rescue organization and lacks specialized high-altitude rescue resources.
The Alpine Club stressed the need for a properly established high-altitude rescue system in Pakistan and is working with authorities to develop improved rescue frameworks and mountaineering infrastructure. It also announced plans to investigate the circumstances surrounding Mushtaq’s death and the expedition company’s response once the recovery is complete, with any necessary actions to follow based on the findings.
The club urged the public to refrain from spreading misinformation or unverified claims regarding the recovery effort, emphasizing that the immediate priority is the safe and dignified retrieval of Mushtaq’s body.
Spantik, or Golden Peak, is a prominent 7,027-metre mountain in the Karakoram range and a popular destination during Pakistan’s summer climbing season, when mountaineers from around the world attempt to summit the country’s highest peaks.
