The body of Pakistani climber Dr Asma Mushtaq has been recovered from Spantik Mountain in Gilgit-Baltistan following a challenging search and retrieval operation at high altitude.
Dr Asma died on August 20 after suffering a serious medical emergency while descending from the 7,027-metre Spantik Peak in the Karakoram range. Her recovery was delayed by heavy snowfall, strong winds and difficult terrain around the upper camps.
Body recovered after difficult search operation
Shigar Deputy Commissioner Sher Afzal said on Monday that local mountaineers recovered Dr Asma’s body during a search operation and began carrying it towards the base camp.
According to the official, the team transporting the body had reached Camp II. However, fresh snowfall was continuing at higher elevations, which could affect the pace and safety of the evacuation.
The team was expected to reach the base camp the following day if weather conditions did not cause further disruption.
Earlier, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar had announced that the search and rescue team located Dr Asma’s remains beyond Camp III on Spantik. The team then began assessing the surrounding conditions and planning a safe and controlled evacuation.
At such elevations, recovery operations can be particularly hazardous because of rapidly changing weather, steep terrain, limited visibility and the physical difficulty of transporting a body from remote mountain camps.
Asma Mushtaq Body Retrieval Mission Halted Due to Heavy Snowfall
Recovery operation delayed by snowfall
The effort to retrieve Dr Asma had already faced several setbacks.
Heavy snowfall and strong winds previously forced the recovery team to turn back while approaching Camp III. The operation was later resumed after weather conditions improved, with rescuers moving from the base camp towards Camp II.
Officials had also reported that the suspected location of the body had been covered by heavy snowfall, making it difficult for the team to identify and retrieve it.
Five days before the recovery was confirmed, Tarar said the rescue team had reached the suspected location but found that snowfall over the preceding two days had completely covered the body.
The difficult conditions meant that high-altitude porters had to carefully plan their approach and evacuation route.
SPANTIK PEAK SEARCH & RESCUE OPERATION – LATEST UPDATE
Dated: 31 August 2026Recovery of body of the deceased:
The Search & Rescue Team has reportedly located the body of Dr. Asma Mushtaq beyond Camp-III.
Recovery & Evacuation: The team is assessing site conditions and… https://t.co/wsRGmsg2IU
— Attaullah Tarar (@TararAttaullah) August 31, 2026
Helicopter support also authorised
Given the challenges involved in reaching the remote location, a helicopter was authorised to assist with the recovery operation.
The Gilgit-Baltistan government coordinated with the Force Command Northern Areas as authorities explored different options for bringing Dr Asma’s body safely back to the base camp.
Alternative arrangements were also prepared in case weather or terrain prevented the helicopter from being used effectively.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was kept informed about developments during the operation, according to the information provided by officials.
The successful recovery marks the end of a prolonged and difficult effort to bring Dr Asma’s body down from one of Pakistan’s high-altitude mountain areas. The remaining evacuation to the base camp will continue to depend on weather and terrain conditions.
