Pakistan Army Aviation has deployed two helicopters, carrying specialised rescue personnel and equipment, to support the ongoing search for ten mountaineers reported missing following an avalanche on Broad Peak, one of the world’s formidable 8,000-metre peaks located in Pakistan’s Karakoram Range.
The Alpine Club of Pakistan confirmed that the helicopters were dispatched to reinforce ground rescue teams operating in extremely difficult high-altitude terrain, with the additional aerial support expected to significantly boost the chances of locating the missing climbers. The club expressed gratitude for the swift and professional response of Pakistan Army Aviation and other agencies involved, underscoring the military’s readiness to assist in humanitarian and mountain rescue efforts whenever called upon.
According to a well-known Pakistani mountaineer and tour operator, the avalanche struck below Lower Camp III on Broad Peak. Those reported missing include climbers from Pakistan as well as several other countries, reflecting the international character of expeditions to Pakistan’s high mountains.
Search and rescue operations remain under way, with authorities yet to confirm the condition or whereabouts of the missing mountaineers. Pakistan Army Aviation’s swift mobilisation once again highlights the crucial role the armed forces play in supporting civilian rescue efforts across the country’s remote and challenging northern terrain, reinforcing Pakistan’s standing as a reliable partner for the international mountaineering community.