ISLAMABAD: A rescue operation to recover the body of Pakistani mountaineer Dr Asma Mushtaq from Spantik, also known as Golden Peak, resumed on Tuesday after weather conditions improved in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Shigar district.
The rescue team departed from the base camp and began trekking towards Camp 2, with plans to reach Camp 3, where the 34-year-old climber’s body has remained since her death on August 20.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed the resumption of the operation in a post on X, saying the team was proceeding cautiously and would continue the mission as conditions allowed.
“The rescue team has once again departed from the base camp and is now heading towards Camp 2,” Tarar said. “The team is moving carefully and will continue the operation as conditions permit. We pray for their safety and success.”
Mushtaq died at an altitude of about 6,250 metres while descending from the 7,027-metre Spantik after developing a severe high-altitude medical emergency. The recovery effort had earlier been hampered by severe weather, preventing rescuers from bringing her body down from Camp 3.
Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) General Secretary Ayaz Shigri had said on Monday that weather conditions were expected to improve on Tuesday, allowing the rescue team to make another attempt to bring Mushtaq’s body to the base camp. Once the body reaches the base camp, Pakistan Army helicopters are expected to airlift it to Skardu, according to Shigri.
Successful summit
Mushtaq had reached the summit of Spantik in good health during the ascent, according to the ACP. She later developed a serious high-altitude medical emergency at an elevation of around 6,400 metres (21,000 feet) during the descent. Her mountain guide, Akbar Ali, and expedition guide, Muhammad Amin, immediately attempted to assist her.
Despite their efforts under extremely difficult conditions, Mushtaq could not survive. Karrar Haidri, a senior vice president of the ACP, expressed condolences over her death and acknowledged the efforts of the guides who had tried to save her.
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Mushtaq was part of a five-member Pakistani women’s expedition that successfully summited Spantik. The team also included climbers Zoni Aslam, Zaba Shigri, Shama and Sohana.
Spantik, one of Pakistan’s prominent high-altitude climbing destinations, rises to 7,027 metres and is located in the Karakoram range of Gilgit-Baltistan.
High-altitude emergency
High-altitude sickness is caused by the body’s inability to adapt adequately to reduced oxygen levels at high elevations. In severe cases, it can lead to potentially fatal conditions affecting the lungs or brain.
The rescue team is now attempting to bring Mushtaq’s body safely down from the mountain despite the challenging terrain and high-altitude conditions.
