Renowned climber Nirmal Purja among 10 feared missing after avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan

The mountain and its risks

Broad Peak, the world's 12th-highest mountain at 8,051 metres, sits on the Pakistan-China border and is widely regarded as one of the more dangerous of the fourteen eight-thousanders. Avalanches and rockfall are recurring hazards on its slopes, particularly during the summer climbing season when international expeditions typically attempt the summit. The peak has been the site of multiple fatal incidents over the past two decades.

Karrar Haidri, speaking on behalf of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, said the organisation was coordinating with local authorities and the military to mount rescue operations. Helicopters and ground teams were being mobilised to the base camp area, though weather conditions in the high Karakoram can change rapidly and complicate aerial operations. The club did not immediately provide details on the nationalities of all those missing beyond the Chinese climber and the Nepalese and Pakistani members of the group.

Rescue coordination

Pakistan's Karakoram range, which includes K2, the world's second-highest mountain, has long attracted large international expeditions during the summer climbing window. Each year, several hundred climbers attempt peaks in the region, often supported by local high-altitude porters and guides. The economic contribution of mountaineering is significant for the surrounding communities in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, though the activity carries persistent risks from avalanches, falls, and altitude-related illness.

The disappearance of a high-profile figure such as Purja has focused international attention on the incident. Purja's 2019 achievement was documented in a widely viewed Netflix film and brought attention to the physical and logistical demands of rapid high-altitude climbing. His subsequent projects have included attempted climbs in the Himalayas and efforts to draw attention to pollution on the world's highest peaks.

Pakistan's mountaineering infrastructure

Rescue efforts in the Karakoram are typically led by the Pakistani military, which operates helicopter squadrons based in the northern part of the country and is often the first responder to mountaineering emergencies. Climbers and support teams familiar with the routes on Broad Peak frequently assist in the initial search phases, providing local knowledge of terrain and weather windows.

The Alpine Club of Pakistan, founded in 1974, is the country's national mountaineering body and serves as the official liaison between international expeditions and Pakistani authorities. The club issues climbing permits, registers expeditions, and coordinates with the government on rescue and recovery operations in the country's northern mountains.

Family members and supporters of the missing climbers have begun sharing appeals on social media for information and for assistance from volunteer rescue teams. The Alpine Club of Pakistan said it would provide further updates as information became available, while warning that communications in the remote area remained limited.