Pakistan suspends search for missing US climbers

'Helicopter-search was suspended after authorities did not get go-ahead for today from families of two climbers'

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan suspended on Sunday a helicopter search for two American climbers who went missing six days ago while trying to summit a mountain in Gilgil-Baltistan (G-B).

Kyle Dempster and Scott Adamson began their ascent of the 7,285-metre (23,900-foot) Ogre-II peak off the Choktoi Glacier in the G-B region on August 21, but went missing the next day and have not been seen since. "The helicopter-search was suspended after authorities did not get a go-ahead for today from families and friends of the two climbers," Karrar Haidri, a spokesperson for the Alpine Club of Pakistan told AFP.



However, a search by high-altitude rescuers is continuing, he said. "Even on Saturday, the rescuers failed to find any sign of the two climbers," Haidri added. Another official, who did not want to be identified, told AFP the helicopter-search can be resumed as and when authorities are asked to do so.

Earlier, the helicopter search had been delayed for days because of adverse weather conditions. Authorities said that a team of local high-altitude rescuers has been searching for the missing climbers for almost a week but bad weather prevented them from ascending the peak.

Pakistan has long been a draw for foreign climbers lured by some of the most spectacular mountains on Earth, including the savage K2, the world's second highest peak.