Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD: Naila Kiani has achieved another major milestone by summiting Kanchenjunga, the world’s third-highest mountain.
On Thursday evening, Kiani began her final ascent from Camp Four towards the summit of Kanchenjunga. Early Friday morning at around 6am, she reached the top of the 8,586-meter-high peak, proudly hoisting the Pakistani flag.
Kanchenjunga is located on the border between India and Nepal and is the highest mountain in India.
Speaking after her remarkable feat, Naila Kiani said she was proud of the achievement, but emphasized that her journey is far from over.
“Climbing Kanchenjunga is not just a personal accomplishment,” she stated. “This is a message to all Pakistani women, I want to show them that they are stronger than they believe.”
With this summit, Kiani has now climbed 12 of the world’s 14 peaks that rise above 8,000 meters, making her the first and only Pakistani woman to do so. Her focus is now set on conquering the remaining two: Shishapangma and Dhaulagiri.
Naila Kiani’s Mountaineering Journey: Naila began her mountaineering career in 2021 by climbing Gasherbrum II. In July 2022, she summited K2, the world’s second-highest peak, followed by Gasherbrum I in August 2022 and Annapurna in April 2023.
During 2023, she also climbed Mount Everest, Lhotse, Nanga Parbat, Broad Peak, and Cho Oyu. Most recently, in May 2024, she conquered Mount Makalu, the world’s fifth-highest mountain.
Now, only two summits remain between her and the historic achievement of scaling all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks — a feat never before accomplished by a Pakistani woman.