A Pakistani female mountaineer, Asma Mushtaq, tragically passed away due to a severe medical emergency while descending Spantik Peak in the Karakoram mountain range. The incident occurred after she had successfully reached the summit at 7,027 metres.
During her descent, at approximately 6,400 metres altitude, Mushtaq developed a critical high-altitude health issue. She was accompanied by her mountain guide Akbar Ali and another guide, Muhammad Amin, who assisted her amid challenging weather and difficult terrain. Despite their efforts to provide aid, she could not be saved.
The trekking company overseeing the expedition confirmed that all possible rescue measures were undertaken on site. They are coordinating with relevant authorities and Mushtaq’s family to manage the necessary arrangements following her death.
Spantik, also known as Golden Peak, is a notable mountaineering destination in Gilgit-Baltistan and stands at 7,027 metres within the Karakoram range. This loss comes during Pakistan’s peak summer climbing season, when numerous mountaineers attempt ascents in the region.
In a related development, the body of mountaineer Sohail Sakhi, who had been missing since an avalanche struck Broad Peak last month, has been recovered by local porters. This reduces the number of missing climbers from that disaster to one.
Three porters from Shigar—Abuzar Ali, Muhammad Bashir, and Muhammad Nadeem—located and retrieved Sakhi’s body after hours of searching through snow and debris without modern rescue gear. They moved the body to a secure location.
Sakhi was among ten climbers missing after the July 30 avalanche on Broad Peak, which rises to 8,051 metres and is known for its technical difficulty. Search and rescue teams had found eight bodies previously, leaving Sakhi and a Nepali climber unaccounted for until now.
The recovery of Sakhi’s body leaves only one Nepali mountaineer still missing, with search efforts ongoing. The Alpine Club of Pakistan confirmed the recovery publicly.
The Broad Peak avalanche also claimed the life of renowned Nepali climber Nirmal ‘Nimsdai’ Purja, aged 43, one of the world’s most celebrated high-altitude mountaineers. The expedition company Elite Exped expressed deep sorrow over the loss of Purja and other members of the team.
