Afghans reach Afghanistan’s highest peak for the first time

19 Jul 2009

Afghans reach Afghanistan’s highest peak for the first time

KABUL - For the first time ever two Afghan climbers have reached the summit of Afghanistan’s highest mountain.

The two climbers, Amruddin and Malang, reached the 7,492 metres summit of Noshaq in the Hindu Kush in the Wakhan, earlier today.

They are the first Afghans to reach the summit of Afghanistan’s highest mountain.

The expedition left the village of Qazi Deh on 2 July with 65 porters.

A posting on the climb’s website on 13 July said: “The Afghans to the top team have reached base camp. At 15,290 feet, the 4 Afghan and 4 French are settling into the snow: erecting tents, doing reconnaissance of the area and most of all becoming acclimatised! Everybody is in good shape and spirits are high, the adventure is starting... The team is now looking at the peak of Noshaq, the highest mountain in Afghanistan, through the shifting fog...”

After a three day trek to base camp they began their ascent and on Sunday, 19 July 2009 the climbers unfurled the Afghan flag on the summit.

The climb’s website also says: “For the first time in history, an Afghan national will have climbed the country’s highest peak. This will be a strong, positive message, illustrating the determination of Afghans to overcome difficulties and bring peace and success to a country torn apart by 30 years of war.”

It adds: “By planting an Afghan flag on the top of Noshaq, they’ll bring hope to a nation that suffers from a lack of international respect, and self esteem.”

As the world’s 52nd highest peak, Noshaq is the second highest independent peak of the Hindu Kush after Tirich Mir in Pakistan at 7,690 metres above sea level.

The highest mountain on earth is Mount Everest at 8,848 metres above sea level.

By Dominic Medley, UNAMA 

Website: The first Afghan ascent of Mount Noshaq