GILGIT: A four-member team of climbers has claimed to have discovered the remains of three climbers who went missing in 2015 during an expedition to Sarwali Peak, also known as Dabbar Peak, in Neelum District of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Sarwali Peak, standing at an altitude of 6,326 meters (20,755 ft), remains one of the few unconquered summits in the region, with no confirmed ascent to date.
The missing climbers, identified as Imran Junaidi, Usman Khalid, and Khurram Shehzad, embarked on an ambitious attempt to summit Sarwali Peak in August 2015. However, on August 31, 2015, they went missing while attempting a summit push on the right saddle of the mountain. Despite a comprehensive search operation launched on September 7, 2015, involving prominent climbers such as Hassan Sadpara and Saddiq Sadpara, no trace of the climbers was found.
The operation, which lasted approximately two weeks, ended with their fate still shrouded in mystery. The ill-fated expedition was a private endeavor, with Junaidi and his climbing partner Tariq previously gaining recognition for their successful ascent of Little Trango in 2014.
The recent discovery of the remains was made by a four-member “search and climb expedition” team led by Emran Arif. The team included climbers Adnan Sultan, Altaf Ahmed (a local guide), and Rafiq (a local porter). The remains were found near the advance base camp of the peak, nine years after the climbers went missing.
Speaking to HUM News English via call, team leader Emran Arif recounted the arduous journey that led to the discovery. He mentioned that he usually undertakes smaller climbs, having previously summited Sukai Sar Peak in 2019, followed by Burawai Peak and BariLa Peak.
“We started this mission in 2022 with the dual purpose of climbing Sarwali Peak and finding the three missing climbers who disappeared in late August 2015,” Arif said.
The team first attempted to reach the base camp in June 2022. However, heavy snow and adverse weather conditions thwarted their efforts, forcing them to abandon the expedition temporarily. Determined to complete their mission, the team resumed their journey this year, departing from Islamabad on August 9, 2024.
They reached Kel the same day and proceeded to Domail Bala the following day, where they began their trek towards the peak. After a challenging six-hour hike, they established their first camp at Glacier View Point. The next day, the team reached the base camp by 2 pm, where they set up tents and conducted drone surveillance but found no clues.
On August 11, 2024, the team advanced to the next camp and initiated a physical search of the area. According to Arif, “We found the remains of two or three persons just above the Advance Base Camp on the C-1 route. Unfortunately, the remains are in a severely deteriorated condition and are unrecognizable.” He said that a shirt and other clothing indicate that they are the missing climbers.
“Initially, Altaf Ahmed and I had planned to go for the summit in Alpine style, but due to altitude sickness, I abandoned my plan while Altaf continued,” he added.
Altaf continued his ascent to the last reported location of the missing climbers, but despite his efforts, he found no further traces. Altaf eventually reached an altitude of 5,700 meters, but worsening weather conditions, including high winds and poor visibility, forced him to descend safely to the base camp.
The discovery of the remains has brought some closure to a tragic chapter in Pakistan’s mountaineering history. However, the mystery of what transpired on that fateful day in 2015 remains unsolved.
Arif said they had informed the families of the climbers, who are still in shock and had been waiting for their return. The families have decided to retrieve the remains in a few days for proper burial.
Weather today: Heavy rains, flooding expected across Pakistan