Heavy snowfall and strong winds have forced a high-altitude rescue team to abandon efforts to recover the body of climber Asma Mushtaq from 7,027m Spantik in the Karakoram, according to Dawn.
The six-member team had reached Camp 2 and attempted to push toward Camp 3, where Mushtaq’s body remains at approximately 6,400m. However, continuous snow, rain, and extreme conditions made further progress too dangerous. They retreated to Base Camp on August 23.
Officials stressed that the recovery team’s safety remains the priority. Mushtaq, 34, a UK-based doctor specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology and originally from Lahore, died on Thursday while descending from Spantik’s summit. She suffered a serious high-altitude medical emergency above 6,000m. Guides provided immediate assistance, but could not save her.
Operator under scrutiny
Baltistan Commissioner Kamal Khan told Dawn that Mushtaq’s tour operator violated mountaineering rules (the framework governing expeditions in Pakistan) by not arranging a recovery team to retrieve the body or for helicopters to airlift it from Base Camp to Skardu.
Pakistan’s mountaineering rules outline strict protocols covering briefing and debriefing. Teams must hold a formal briefing in Islamabad/Rawalpindi with tourism officials regarding insurance, logistics, and liaison officers before departure. Authorities require a debrief upon return. The rules prohibit starting expeditions without these administrative procedures.
The Baltistan Tours website details the regulations. The framework requires operators to guarantee emergency logistics and insurance. Pakistani officials are investigating whether Mushtaq’s tour operator bypassed these mandatory administrative procedures.
Spantik. Photo: Wikipedia
Alpine club statement
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) General Secretary Ayaz Shigri confirmed the location of Mushtaq’s body. He noted that the recovery operation — coordinated by her expedition company, the tourism department, and the ACP — was halted at Camp 2 by severe weather. A helicopter mission is being pursued, and an investigation into the company’s conduct will follow the recovery.
The ACP rejected social media claims of deliberate delays, emphasizing that safe, respectful recovery is the priority.
