Pakistani climbers Abdul Joshi and Sirbaz Khan make history by summiting Tirich Mir (7,708m), the highest peak of the Hindu Kush, boosting Chitral tourism.
First Pakistanis Summit Tirich Mir
In August 2025, Pakistani climbers made history by reaching the top of Tirich Mir (7,708m), the highest peak of the Hindu Kush mountains. Despite its height, the mountain rarely sees expeditions because of its remote location near the Afghanistan border and occasional political restrictions.
New Route on Tirich Mir
On August 1, mountaineer Abdul Joshi and his team of Shimshal Guides Hameed Ullah, Faryad Karim, Mansoor Karim, and Nisar Ahmed became the first Pakistanis to climb Tirich Mir this season.
They created a new route on the west face, which Joshi named the Abdul Joshi Route. The climb was extremely technical, with 1,200m of fixed rope placed over dangerous ice, crevasses, and mixed rock-and-ice sections.
Joshi described Tirich Mir as one of the most dangerous and technically difficult climbs in Pakistan’s mountaineering history.
Sirbaz Khan and Abid Baig Summit on August 19
A second achievement came on August 19, when Pakistan’s renowned 14×8,000m summiter Sirbaz Khan successfully reached the summit at 3 pm. His partner Abid Baig from Hunza also stood on top, making them the first officially recognized Pakistanis to summit Tirich Mir.
They were joined on the expedition by Akmal Naveed and Shams Qamar from Chitral, with support from professional high-altitude porters. Due to storms, the rest of the team could only reach 7,300m, but Khan and Baig continued to win.
Historic Moment for Pakistan Climbers
This climb was supported by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority, marking a major milestone in Pakistan’s mountaineering achievements.
Sirbaz Khan and Abdul Joshi already share a rich history of climbs together. In 2021, they became the first Pakistanis to summit Annapurna. Khan has since completed all 14 eight-thousanders without oxygen, while Joshi climbed Everest (2023) K2 (2024), and several new peaks in the Karakoram.
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Chitral Tourism & Local Economy
K-P Culture and Tourism Authority Director Umar Arshad Khan called the success a historic achievement that will shine global attention on Chitral Valley and Hindu Kush mountaineering.
He said:
One successful international summit generates millions of dollars in tourism revenue. Now, the youth of Chitral will have opportunities as high-altitude porters and guides, boosting the local economy.
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A Legendary Himalayan Giant
Tirich Mir is one of the most iconic mountains in Pakistan, with seven main summits. It was first climbed in 1950 by a Norwegian-British team. To celebrate the 75th anniversary, the K-P government announced free climbing permits for Tirich Mir and the Hindu Kush in 2025–26.
In recent years, only a handful of international climbers attempted the peak. Among them were Japanese alpinists Kazuya Hiraide and Kenro Nakajima, who opened the legendary Secret Line on the north face, earning the Piolet d’Or. Sadly, they lost their lives the following year on K2.
Global Mountaineering Map
With this achievement, Pakistani climbers have put Tirich Mir climbing back on the world stage. Sirbaz Khan proudly said that now the three greatest ranges the Hindu Kush, Karakoram, and Himalaya have been successfully represented by Pakistanis.
Tirich Mir is one of the toughest peaks I’ve climbed. With this success, Pakistan is now recognized globally in the world of high-altitude climbing, said Sirbaz Khan.
