In a historic mission, the body of the first climber from Afghanistan who tragically died at K2 camp 3 last year has been successfully recovered and repatriated to his native country. This extraordinary accomplishment was made possible by a team of six climbers from Skardu, marking the first ever instance of retrieving a body from K2.
Ali Akbar Sakhi, a 34-year-old Afghan climber, was part of an expedition team attempting to scale K2 in July of last year when he sadly lost his life at camp 3. The team led by Abid Sadpara, son of the late Hassan Sadpara, included members Sadiq Sadpara, Ali Musa, Arif Sadpara, Murad Ali Shagri, and Abdin Shagri.
This mission posed immense challenges, as K2 is already known for being an extremely difficult peak to conquer. The process of climbing and descending is technically demanding, and is made even more treacherous by unpredictable weather conditions, rock falls, and steep routes. Since 1952, a total of 586 climbers, both local and international, have lost their lives on K2 during summit attempts.
Abid Sadpara and his team accomplished the mission in just six days, successfully locating the body at an altitude of 7,200 meters. They installed new ropes to facilitate the delicate task of bringing the body down. This unprecedented search and rescue operation would not have been possible without the assistance of the Pakistan Army.
The Pakistani Army played a crucial role in the safe transfer of the deceased Afghan mountaineer’s body from the base camp to the CMH Skardu, utilizing an army helicopter. The body was then handed over to the family and later transported to Islamabad via a PIA flight before being sent back to Afghanistan. This feat of bringing down a body from an altitude of 7,200 meters is a perilous task that had never been accomplished before.
Despite efforts to involve skilled Nepalese climbers, they declined due to the complexity of the operation. Remarkably, the body was found to be well-preserved, further highlighting the challenges faced by the team in successfully retrieving it.
This historic mission is a testament to the determination, courage, and collaboration of the climbers involved, as well as the support of the Pakistan Army. It not only brings closure to the family of the Afghan climber but also marks a significant milestone in the history of mountaineering at K2.
