Pakistani mountaineers scale K-2 peak
A group of six Pakistani climbers has scaled the world's second highest peak, situated close to Pakistan's northern border with China.
The 8611-metre-tall mountain known as K-2 is considered a great challenge among mountaineers.
Some say it's more difficult to climb than Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world.
Munir Ahmad, spokesman for the expedition, told DPA that the Pakistani mountaineers made it to the top at 2.25am local time on Saturday (0825 AEST).
"It is about time that a team of Pakistani climbers scaled the peak," said Ahmad.
The expedition, dubbed "K-2: 60 Years Later", was organised by an Italian non-governmental organisation to mark the 60th anniversary of the first-ever successful ascent by Italians Achille Compagnoni, Lino Lacedelli and Ardito Desio in 1954.
The Pakistani team included Hassan Jan, Ali Durani, Rahmat Ullah Baig, Ghulam Mehdi, Ali and Muhammad Sadiq.
Ahmad said that the climbers were on their way down and would be back at the base camp in next three to four days depending on weather conditions.
The team started its journey on June 14 as a group of eight, but two of the participating mountaineers were forced to abandon the climb due to sickness.
