KHAPLU, Gilgit-Baltistan: The bodies of three climbers who went missing on the K2 winter ascent in February this year have been found, the Alpine Club of Pakistan said in a statement on Monday.
Muhammad Ali Sadpara, 45, of Pakistan, John Snorri, 47, of Iceland, and Juan Pablo Mohr, 33, of Chile, were last seen just 300 meters short of the summit of K2, the world’s second-highest mountain, on February 5. It is believed the group reached the summit but encountered a problem on the way down.
“The dead bodies of Muhammad Ali Sadpara, John Snorri, Juan Pablo Mohr found near the bottleneck of K2 8611-M,” Karrar Haidri, secretary of Alpine Club of Pakistan, said in a statement. “It is very difficult to bring the dead bodies down from the high altitude. Army Aviation is helping in this regard.”
Snorri’s body will be moved to Iceland as requested by his wife, Haidri said. The mother and sister of Mohr had already decided to bring back the body to their country, he added.
Almost a month ago, Sajid Ali Sadpara, the son of Pakistan’s iconic high-altitude mountaineer Muhammad Ali Sadpara, left Skardu, Gilgit Baltistan, to find the remains of his father who went missing while attempting to scale the world’s most dangerous peak in winter.
“Sajid was at camp 3, when the Nepalese Sherpa located the dead bodies. Upon the information, Sajid went to above camp 4,” Asghar Ali Porik, expedition organizer of the search mission and head of the Pakistan Association of Tour Operators, told Arab News on Monday.
“To bring the dead bodies from above the 8,000 meters is a tough job,” Porik said, adding that now the next task was to bring down the bodies as helicopter could not fly beyond 8,000 meters.
The three missing climbers were last seen by Sadpara’s son, 20-year-old Sajid, who had to turn around because of an oxygen supply malfunction. “My family and I have lost a kindhearted person and the Pakistani nation has lost a brave and great adventurous individual who was passionate about climbing,” Sajid had said earlier in the year.
The search operation for the three climbers included Pakistani military helicopters flying up and down the mountain, and an F-16 plane to photograph the ground to look for clues to where they might have taken shelter. Extremely low temperatures and gusting winds make it nearly impossible to survive on K2 for more than few days.
Bodies of Ali Sadpara, two mountaineers lost on K2 winter summit found
https://arab.news/zk68z
Bodies of Ali Sadpara, two mountaineers lost on K2 winter summit found
- Sadpara, Snorri and Mohr were last seen just 300 metres short of the summit of K2, world’s second-highest mountain
- It is believed the group reached the summit but encountered a problem on the way down
Australia says father and son carried out Sydney beach attack as Pakistan condemns violence
- Australian authorities say at least 15 people were killed in the shooting, including a 10-year-old girl
- Pakistan says it stands in solidarity with Australia, condemns terrorism in all forms and manifestations
ISLAMABAD: Australian authorities said on Monday a father and son carried out a mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach during a Jewish festival, as Pakistan expressed solidarity with Australia and condemned the attack that claimed at least 15 lives.
Police said the 50-year-old father was shot dead at the scene while his 24-year-old son was wounded and taken into custody after the gunmen opened fire on crowds gathered for a Hanukkah celebration at the popular beach.
“We want to get to the bottom of this,” New South Wales police commissioner Mal Lanyon said on Monday. “We want to understand the motives behind it.”
A 10-year-old girl was among the 15 dead in Australia’s worst mass shooting for almost 30 years, while 42 more were rushed to hospital with gunshot wounds and other injuries.
Pakistan’s government said it stood with Australia following the shooting, reiterating its opposition to such incidents amid renewed militant violence at home.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed condolences to the victims and said Pakistan condemned “terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.”
President Asif Ali Zardari also conveyed sympathy to the victims’ families and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
“Pakistan itself a victim of terrorism, stands in solidarity with & condemns violence against innocent civilians,” he said.
Pakistan has faced a resurgence in militant attacks in recent months, particularly in its northwest. On Sunday, Sharif praised security forces after they killed 13 militants in two separate operations in the Mohmand and Bannu districts, according to a statement from his office.
Australian police said the attackers fired from a raised boardwalk overlooking the beach, sending people fleeing in panic. Authorities later discovered what they described as an improvised explosive device in a vehicle parked near the scene, which they believe was linked to the attackers.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said tougher gun controls may be needed, including limits on the number of firearms an individual can own, after police confirmed the father held licenses for six weapons believed to have been used in the attack.
Mass shootings have been rare in Australia since sweeping gun law reforms were introduced after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, but Albanese said the latest attack required authorities to reassess whether existing controls remained sufficient.
With input from AFP
