Explainer: What could have happened to Ali Sadpara?
Experts weigh in on elements leading to celebrated climber going missing on perilous K2 winter ascent
The search for three missing mountaineers – including Pakistan’s iconic climber Muhammad Ali Sadpara – was officially called off on Thursday with families saying the trio should now be considered dead on the world’s second highest peak.
The announcement by Sajid Sadpara, son of Ali Sadpara, draws the curtain on a dramatic tragedy on K2 that kept Pakistan on the tenterhooks for nearly two weeks. It also drew to a close the perilous search and rescue operation – arguably one of the longest in the history of mountaineering.