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'{{Infobox mountain | name = Noshaq | elevation_m = 7492 | elevation_ref = | prominence_m = 2024 | prominence_ref = | map = Afghanistan | map_caption = | label_position = left | listing = [[List of countries by highest point|Country high point]]<br />[[Ultra prominent peak|Ultra]] | location = {{flag|Afghanistan}} {{flag|Pakistan}} | range = [[Hindu Kush]] | lat_d = 36 | lat_m = 25 | lat_s = 54 | lat_NS = N | long_d = 71 | long_m = 49 | long_s = 42 | long_EW = E | coordinates = {{Coord|36|25|54|N|71|49|42|E|type:mountain}} | coordinates_ref = | first_ascent = 1960 by Toshiaki&nbsp;Sakai &amp; Goro Iwatsubo (Japan) | easiest_route = glacier/snow climb }} '''Noshaq''' (or '''Nowshak''') is the highest [[mountain]] in [[Afghanistan]] and the second highest independent peak of the [[Hindu Kush]] after [[Tirich Mir]] ({{convert|7690|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}). Noshaq is located in the northeastern corner of the country along the [[Durand line]] which marks the border with [[Pakistan]]. It is the westernmost {{convert|7000|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} peak in the world. The north and west sides of the mountain are in Afghanistan whereas the south and eastern sides are in Pakistan. The first ascent of the mountain was in 1960 by Toshiaki Sakai and Goro Iwatsubo, members of a [[Japan]]ese expedition. The climb followed the southeast ridge from the [[Qadzi Deh Glacier]]. Nowadays, the normal route is by the West ridge. The first winter ascent was in 1973 by Tadeusz Piotrowski and [[Andrzej Zawada]], members of a Polish expedition, via the north face. It was the world's first winter climb above {{convert|7000|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}. The first Afghan ascent of the mountain was in July 2009. Two members of a team of four Afghans from the [[Wakhan Corridor]] made the summit on July 19.<ref name="noshaq.com">[http://www.noshaq.com Afghan Noshaq expedition]</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} summitBy Christopher Sleight BBC News, Afghanistan The team ran out of food on their climb up to Noshaq's summit A Welsh expedition has made the first British ascent for 30 years of the highest mountain in Afghanistan. The team, with three members from Anglesey and one from Alaska, reached the summit of the 7,492m (24,580ft) Noshaq on Wednesday. Now back in Ishkashim, north-east Afghanistan, the climbers described how they had to dodge minefields on the approach to the mountain. Team leader James Bingham said it was a "very tough" expedition. Related stories In pictures: Afghanistan climb He said the group had run out of food in the later stages of the climb and a broken stove meant they could not drink on some days. "We were met with waist-deep snow, windslab conditions - which can bring on unpredictable avalanches - white-outs and storms," said Mr Bingham, from Rhosneiger. "It was a very difficult expedition to mount." Other members of the group were Mark Wynne and Quentin Brooksbank, both from Anglesey, and Bill Lyden from Alaska. Continue reading the main story “ Start Quote They sent four fairly tooled-up soldiers along with Kalashnikovs” End Quote James Bingham Team leader Afghan tourism: The climbers The three of the group who made the summit also spent two nights above 7,000m cut off from their food cache because of the white-out conditions. They were only allowed to climb the mountain after accepting an armed escort from the commander of the police in Ishkashim. Mr Bingham said the commander was worried that the expedition planned to pass close to the Pakistan border in an area where there is suspected Taleban activity. "It was agreed that if we took on security, we would be granted permission to climb the mountain," he said. "They sent four fairly tooled-up soldiers along with Kalashnikovs. "They came up with us to a certain level and then they'd do joint patrols going up to the Pakistan border and then every second or third day they'd check on us." The expedition team needed armed guards to get to Mount Noshaq Areas of the Hindu Kush are beginning to open up to tourists, having remained relatively peaceful during the Soviet occupation and the Taleban insurgency. Small groups of mountaineers, trekkers and skiers are beginning to visit the area, attracted by the unexplored peaks and stable climate. Mr Bingham said they had received a "very friendly and warm welcome" everywhere they went in Afghanistan. "It's been a wonderful experience to visit and climb here," he added.'