First Afghan woman summits Mount Everest

KABUL, Afghanistan (MNTV) — An Australia-based Afghan refugee, Zakia Ahmad, has become the first Afghan woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest, according to her expedition organizers.

Ahmad, who is also known as “River,” reached the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) peak at 7:20 a.m. local time on May 21, completing a climb she said was intended to raise awareness about women’s rights, refugee resilience and mental health.

A student at Victoria University, Ahmad described her expedition as an effort to inspire Afghan women and girls, particularly amid sweeping restrictions imposed under Taliban rule.

The organizers said her ascent marks a milestone both for Afghanistan and for women seeking to overcome barriers through adventure and sport.

Ahmad’s journey to the Everest followed a difficult childhood in Afghanistan. She has said she survived an attack on a bus traveling to Kabul as a teenager, an experience that later shaped her advocacy and contributed to her decision to seek refuge in Australia.

In the months leading up to the expedition, she underwent extensive training and fundraising efforts to support the climb, saying she hoped the achievement would draw global attention to the challenges facing Afghan women.

Her expedition company confirmed the successful summit and described it as a symbolic achievement highlighting resilience and determination.

The climb comes at a time when women and girls in Afghanistan continue to face severe restrictions on education, employment and public life under Taliban rule, adding broader significance to her accomplishment beyond mountaineering.