SKARDU: An Iranian climber has died, another has gone missing and yet another has been stranded at about 7,800 metres while descending from the Broad Peak after conquering it.

According to sources, nine climbers from different countries scaled the peak and began descending. Six of them reached the base camp.

However, an Iranian mountaineer fell into a ditch, another one went missing and the third has been stranded at a height of about 7,800 metres.

On Sunday, an army helicopter tried to rescue the stranded climber but did not succeed due to inclement weather.

With a height of 8,051 metres, the Broad Peak, also known as K3, is the 12th highest mountain in the world. It is located on the Pak-China border and in the Karakoram mountain range about 8km from K2.

AP adds: The head of a mountaineering club in Islamabad confirmed that rescuers had called off their search for the three Iranian climbers.

Manzoor Hussain, the president of the Alpine Club, said his outfit was coordinating the expedition and that the three Iranians successfully ascended the summit of Broad Peak.

He said the men sent a call for help while descending the peak, saying they were exhausted and had run out of food.

Mr Hussain said rescue teams were dispatched, but failed to find them.

He said the three men were last in touch with their homeland via satellite phone on Saturday.