§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department was first aware that two climbers were missing in North East Pakistan; what steps were taken to alert the Pakistan authorities and organise a search; on what date such a search began; when the first helicopter search was made; and for what reasons a helicopter search was not made earlier. [55483]
§ Mr. FatchettWe first heard of the disappearance of the two climbers on 14 August, when Mrs. Lisette Rendle told the Department and the High Commission in Islamabad that Ian Rendle and Gordon Campbell had996W failed to catch their flight home. On 15 August the High Commission alerted local police who agreed to check all hotels and police posts on the climbers' itinerary.
On 20 August the British Mountaineering Council confirmed that the two men were insured for any necessary searches and requested a helicopter search. The Pakistani Ministry of Tourism told the High Commission that the Ministry's helicopter was for rescue only, and not searches.
The Ministry advised the High Commission to ask the Pakistani Army to search with one of their helicopters but warned that permission could take 15–20 days. The Defence Section of the High Commission submitted a request the same day.
The Deputy High Commissioner called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 22 August to reinforce the request for military help. The High Commission sent a further written request on 27 August.
The High Commission made simultaneous inquiries with a private company about chartering a helicopter. This proved impossible as the company's helicopters were not equipped to fly at an altitude high enough to enable the search to be carried out.
On 31 August the Government of Pakistan gave the Army authority to conduct a helicopter search. Bad weather and use of the helicopters for military purposes delayed the search until 8 September, and it then had to be abandoned because of low cloud. Bad weather again set in but the search was resumed and completed on 16 September. No trace of the two men was found. Two foot searches were also conducted, one from 22 August to 1 September and the other from 14 to 28 September. The High Commission acted with the families and tour companies to get these searches organised. Neither found any trace of the missing men. A third foot search is being organised at the families' request.