ISLAMABAD, Jan 18: A 12-member Spanish winter expedition has embarked upon climbing over 8000 meter Mount Broadpeak in Karakoram.

It would be the first time in the country that a winter expedition led by Juan Olarzbal would be climbing the snow-capped heights of the northern areas mountain.

The minister for water and power and Kana, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, welcoming the expedition, said that the country’s law and order situation was quite satisfactory and the winter expedition from Spain would be the ambassadors of Pakistan when its members would return after successfully conquering the high peaks in the Northern Areas.

“Mount Godwin Austin (K-2, 8,625 meters high) the second highest peak in the world was perched in the extreme north while Nanga Parbat (8,126 meters high) stands sentinel over the Southern gateway were major attractions for the trekkers of the world,” said the minister.

In between were mounts Broadpeak, Mashabrum, Rakaposhi, Harmosh and nearly 30 other peaks over 6,000 meters. The area also forms the concordance of many of the highest peaks of the world for it was here that the Western Himalayas meet the Karakoram and the Hindukush ranges watched just across by the Pamirs and Kun Lun.