Zindabad

Incoming Editorial Team·Verified November 7, 2026

In the heart of the Karakoram, a Pakistani climber attempts a first ascent in his own backyard, where the biggest peaks have long been claimed by outsiders. Set against the long shadow of 9/11, which reshaped access, perception, and opportunity across Pakistan’s mountains, the expedition becomes a lens on a deeper imbalance. Mueez’s climb is an attempt to shift that dynamic, and to imagine a future where the next generation of Pakistani alpinists define their own routes, on their own terms.