KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Zakia Ahmad “River”, a woman from Afghanistan living in exile in Australia, made history on Thursday by becoming the first woman from Afghanistan to successfully climb Mount Everest, reaching the summit of the world’s highest mountain.
Zakia reached the 8,848-metre peak alongside Nepali guides Dawa Tenzing Sherpa and Phurba Gyaljen Sherpa, departing from Thame village in Nepal’s Khumbu region, according to TRT World.
The achievement marks a historic moment for women from Afghanistan in mountaineering, accomplished after more than two months of intensive preparation in Nepal, during which she climbed several other high peaks to qualify for the Everest expedition and obtain the necessary permits.
Born in the 1990s in Jaghori, a Hazara-populated district in Afghanistan’s Ghazni province, Zakia fled her homeland soon after the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. She resettled in Australia, from where she pursued her long-held ambition to become a professional mountaineer.
Earlier, in a detailed interview with the exiled news outlet Etilaatroz, Zakia had described her goal of reaching the summit as the fulfilment of a deeply personal dream. Addressing women and girls living under Taliban rule in Afghanistan, she said: “Never stop under any circumstances. Everyone has abilities, and with effort and determination, they can achieve their dreams.”
Her supporters have described the climb as a powerful symbol of resilience, courage, and hope for women, refugees, and displaced communities around the world.
Mount Everest, located in the Himalayas on the Nepal-China (Tibet) border, rises 8,848.86 metres above sea level and attracts climbers from around the world each year, despite extreme weather, avalanches and altitude-related risks.
Zakia’s success comes at a time when women and girls in Afghanistan continue to face some of the world’s most severe restrictions on education, sports, employment, and public participation. Despite these challenges, women from Afghanistan in exile have achieved notable successes in recent years across sports, arts, and other fields.
Just a week ago, para-taekwondo athlete Zakia Khudadadi, another woman from Afghanistan living in exile in France, won gold for the second time at the European Para Taekwondo Championships. Khudadadi had previously made history at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games by winning a bronze medal as part of the Refugee Paralympic Team.
