Pakistan’s leading and most accomplished female mountaineer, Naila Kiani, has successfully scaled Kanchenjunga, the world’s third-highest peak. This remarkable achievement marks her 12th summit above 8,000 meters and brings her closer to her ambitious goal of joining the elite group of women who have conquered all 14 of the world’s highest mountains.
Kanchenjunga, standing at an imposing 8,586m (28,169 feet), lies on the border between India and Nepal and is also recognized as the tallest peak in India. However, climbing the mountain from the Indian side is prohibited. Naila Kiani commenced her final ascent from Camp IV on Thursday evening and successfully reached the summit at approximately 6 am PKT. There, she proudly hoisted Pakistan’s flag atop the world’s third highest, Nepal’s second highest, and India’s highest peak.
According to her basecamp team, the final summit push began around 6:30 pm PKT and endured throughout the night under severe high-altitude conditions, including intense snowfall and sub-zero temperatures. Despite these formidable challenges, Kiani maintained her unwavering resolve and reached the summit, driven by an unshakeable determination.
“From Pakistan to Kanchenjunga, this summit is not just a personal milestone, it’s a message to every girl and woman in Pakistan and beyond: you are stronger than you think,” Kiani shared in a message via her team. “I’m proud and I’m grateful, but the journey is far from over. Pakistan, this is for you.”
With this extraordinary achievement, Kiani becomes the only Pakistani woman to have summited 12 of the 14 peaks above 8,000 meters. She is now just two summits away from joining an exclusive group of only 17 women worldwide who have completed this monumental challenge. Only Shishapangma and Dhaulagiri remain for her to make history.
Kiani initiated her high-altitude climbing career in 2021 by summiting Gasherbrum II. Since then, she has conquered some of the world’s most formidable peaks, including K2 (2022), Gasherbrum I (2022), Annapurna (2023), Mount Everest (2023), Lhotse (2023), Nanga Parbat (2023), Broad Peak (2023), Cho Oyu (2023), and Mount Makalu (2024). Kiani also holds the distinction of being the only Pakistani woman to have summited all five peaks over 8,000 meters located within Pakistan. Furthermore, she holds the record for being the first Pakistani woman to have reached the summit of at least nine peaks over 8,000 meters globally. This impressive feat firmly establishes her as the country’s undisputed leading female climber.
Her relentless pursuit of mountaineering excellence has transformed her into a symbol of perseverance and inspiration for women in Pakistan and across the globe.
