The Alpine Club of Pakistan has announced that Zakia Ahmad has become the first Afghan woman to summit Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain.
According to the club, Zakia Ahmad reached the 8,848-meter peak early Thursday morning alongside Nepali guides Dawa Tenzing Sherpa and Phurba Gyaljen Sherpa.
The organization said Ahmad, also known as “River,” climbed Everest through Nepal’s Khumbu region, marking a historic achievement for Afghan mountaineering.
No Afghan woman had previously reached the summit of Everest.
Muzhgan Mehtar Ebrahimi, Ahmad’s sister, wrote on social media that the achievement represented more than a successful climb.
“Her journey is more than reaching a summit. It is a symbol of courage, resilience, and hope for millions of girls and women who dare to dream beyond limitations,” she wrote.
Mount Everest, located in the Himalayas along the border between Nepal and Tibet, China, is considered the ultimate challenge for climbers around the world.
Mountaineering organizations say only a small number of climbers successfully reach the summit because of the extreme physical and technical demands of the ascent.
Ahmad previously said she wanted to dedicate the Everest climb to the girls of Afghanistan.
The 31-year-old Afghan mountaineer sought refuge in Australia in 2022 after the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan.
Before Everest, she had already climbed several major peaks, including Noshaq in Afghanistan, Mont Blanc in France, Mera Peak in Nepal, and Nanda Devi in India.
Experienced climbers say summiting Everest requires years of preparation, endurance training, and advanced mountaineering skills.
Ahmad had earlier said she underwent extensive training before attempting the climb.
