The rescue team searching for Pakistani climber Dr Asma Mushtaq's body on Gilgit-Baltistan's Spantik peak has reached the suspected location, where the body is buried under snow, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Wednesday. Taking to X, the information minister provided an update on the rescue mission, stating that the team had reached the area where the body was believed to be. "However, because the area is vast and due to heavy snowfall over the past 2 days, the body is now completely covered under snow, making it difficult to locate," he added, noting that the retrieval operation was underway.
According to the Alpine Club of Pakistan, Dr Mushtaq died on August 20 after suffering a serious high-altitude medical emergency while descending from the 7,027-metre Spantik Mountain in the Karakoram range. The recovery operation had previously been suspended after heavy snowfall and strong winds forced the team to turn back near Camp 3. However, Tarar announced a day earlier that the mission had resumed following an improvement in weather conditions.
"After the weather improved, the rescue team departed from Base Camp once again and is heading towards Camp 2," the minister said in an update on X, expressing hope for the team's safety and success. Tarar added that a helicopter had been authorised to assist in the retrieval, with close coordination established between the Gilgit-Baltistan government and Force Command Northern Areas (FCNA).
He maintained that alternative arrangements were also in place and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was being kept updated on the situation. The authorities remain fully committed to safely recovering the mortal remains of the late climber and bringing them back to her grieving family.