Gen Qamar felicitates Nepalese climbers on first winter K2 ascent

A group of mountaineers part of International Winter K-2 Expedition visited GHQ and called on General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

According to the Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR), COAS congratulated the climbers for their great achievement, scaling K-2 in winter for the first time; making history in the field of mountaineering.

The delegation shared their experiences during the momentous expedition and thanked Pakistan and its people for their warm hospitality.

The delegation also expressed their gratitude for facilitating the expedition to achieve this record.

Nepali climbers have made history by climbing the world’s second-highest peak, K2, in the freezing winters.

Thirteen of the world’s 14 highest peaks were topped in the winter, and K2 is the only peak in the world that has not been topped in the winter.

But now the climbers have made history by completing this extremely difficult task.

International Winter K-2 Expedition delegation visited GHQ and called on army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, who congratulated climbers for their great achievement, scaling #K2 in winter for the first time pic.twitter.com/flUUZFE3c6

— The Express Tribune (@etribune) January 22, 2021

The history-makers included Nirmal Purja, Mingma David Sherpa, Mingma Tenzi Sherpa, Geljen Sherpa, Pem Chiri Sherpa, Dawa Temba Sherpa, Mingma G, Dawa Tenjin Sherpa, Kilu Pemba Sherpa and Sona Sherpa.

Located on Pakistan’s side of Karakoram range, K2 is one of the world’s 14 tallest mountains – all higher than 8,000 meters – and is known as the world’s most dangerous and challenging peak.

Until the record was broken last week, the 8,611m peak was the only 8,000m peak that has never been climbed in winter.

Since the maiden attempt in 1987-1988, just a handful of winter expeditions have been attempted on the storied 8,611-metre (28,250-feet) mountain in the Karakoram range along the Chinese border.