Pakistani teen Ahmed Kamal summits Spantik in record time

GILGIT: A 16-year-old Pakistani climber Ahmed Kamal from Lahore has successfully summited Spantik, the 7,027-meter peak also known as Golden Peak, located in the Karakoram Range.

The young mountaineer achieved this extraordinary milestone within a mere five days. Kamal, who has already garnered attention for his impressive climbs on several 6,000-meter peaks, was part of a nine-member Pakistani team that reached the summit of Spantik at 7:30 am on Tuesday. The expedition was managed by Karakoram Calling Treks, led by CEO Muhammad Ameen Hashevi, who praised the team for their success.

The team of summiteers included climbers from various regions of Pakistan. Among them were Fareed Hussain from Rahimabad Valley in Gilgit, Walid from Karachi, Major Waqas Ahmad from Islamabad, Asif Ashoor from Skardu, Muhammad Awais from Khaplu, Zakir Hussain from Hushey, Jawad Ali from Arando, and Ali Rozi from Hushey Valley of Baltistan.

“Congratulations to the team for successfully summiting Mount Spantik Golden Peak in 2024! Your hard work, determination, and teamwork have paid off, and you have achieved an incredible feat. Well done to everyone involved,” said Muhammad Ameen Hashevi, expressing his pride in the team’s achievement.

Renowned mountaineer Shehroze Kashif highlighted the young climber’s potential in a heartfelt social media post. “What incredible news to wake up to! Ahmed Kamal, a rising star in mountaineering, has successfully summited Spantik at 7,027 meters today. At just 16 years old, he’s already done several 6,000-meter peaks, proving he’s on track to become the next big name in 8,000-meter expeditions, InshaAllah,” Kashif remarked.

Kashif also shared a personal anecdote, revealing that Kamal had expressed concerns about running late for the expedition, as the rest of the team had already departed from the base camp. “Despite this, he set off for Skardu five days ago, spent just one day at base camp, and within five days, proudly raised the Pakistani flag at the top of Spantik, the Golden Peak,” he added.

“I don’t want to make any grand statements here, but rest assured, Ahmed Kamal is destined for greatness in the coming years, InshAllah. Ahmed, get ready for the 8,000-meter peaks—your time is coming soon, InshaAllah,” Kashif concluded.

Among the other summiteers, 19-year-old Fareed Hussain from Rahimabad Valley in Gilgit stands out for his resilience and determination. Coming from a humble background, Hussain had run a social media campaign to secure sponsorship for the expedition, eventually receiving support from the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP).

His journey to the summit of Spantik is even more remarkable considering the significant setback he faced last year during his K2 expedition. Near Camp 4, at an altitude of 8,200 meters, Hussain suffered frostbite and other injuries, forcing him to abandon the climb. Despite this setback, he continued to pursue his passion and joined the Spantik expedition. He has successfully summited the Khosar Gang peak (6,400 meters) in Shigar in 2022.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa govt to allot free plots to families of martyrs