The conflict between India and Pakistan has escalated at an alarming speed and impacted not only world events but also the upcoming climbing expeditions in both countries. Flights to Pakistan are being canceled or rerouted, grounding climbing teams. And this is just the beginning.
In the last few hours, the two countries engaged in the deadliest exchange of fire of the last two decades.
Most commercial airlines are avoiding Pakistan’s airspace, and both India and Pakistan are suspending operations at key airports, The Independent reported.
No Ultar Shar expedition
U.S. climbers Ethan Berman, Maarten van Haeren, and Sebastian Pelletti’s flight to Islamabad was canceled shortly before they boarded. The team, supported by a Cutting Edge grant, was off to make its second attempt on the southeast pillar of 7,388m Ultar Sar in the Karakoram.
Ethan Berman and Maarten van Haeren at the Calgary airport, after learning their flight to Pakistan had been canceled. Photo: Seba Pelletti/Instagram
Rising tension
The political unrest between the two nuclear powers started after a terrorist attack left 27 people dead in Indian Kashmir on April 22. The attack, claimed by the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, reignited the long-simmering conflict between the two countries over the disputed region. India accused Pakistan of being involved, which Islamabad denied, according to CNN.
Early this morning, India retaliated by bombing objectives in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. It remains unclear how Pakistan will respond.
Recently, India closed its airspace to Pakistani flights, but the situation for commercial routes has worsened with the aerial strikes. Commercial airlines are now avoiding Pakistan’s airspace, forcing the rerouting or cancellation of flights.
Karakoram season at risk
The escalating tension has caused serious concern for climbers planning to go to Pakistan this summer. Several of the Karakoram and Himalayan mountains lie close to the India-Pakistan border. This might not only impact access but will make helicopter flights difficult. In Pakistan, such flights are run exclusively by the military.
The political instability adds to the already-existing uncertainty about climbing fees in Pakistan, which tripled in price at the beginning of this year. Local agencies complained in court, halting the measure temporarily while the judges consider the case. At first, word was that the rising fees would not come into effect in 2025, but later reports said that the state of the 2025 fees remains unclear.
India: Climbers in Garhwal Himalaya
As for India, Jammu and Kashmir are closed to trekkers and climbers, but other mountain areas like the Garhwal Himalaya are still open. The team of Sean McLane and Vitaliy Musiyenko of the U.S. is currently there. We will post a story about them later today.
Sean McLane and Vitaliy Musiyenko with their liaison officer at the Indian Mountaineering Foundation last Friday. Photo: Vitaliy Musiyenko
Just four days ago, McLane and Musiyenko asked about climbing options around Jammu and Kashmir. India’s Mountaineering Federation told them that it will be very difficult to obtain a permit for those areas in the next months.
“Next year, it should be less problematic,” they were informed, but it remains to be seen how and how long this current escalation of hostilities will affect near-future plans.
