Watch: Pakistan Army is the best, says rescued Russian mountaineer Gukov
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Pakistan's army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa visited mountaineer Alexander Gukov at a hospital in Rawalpindi after a Pakistani helicopter rescued the Russian in a daring mission.
The Russian mountaineer was trapped at 6,294 meters (20,650 feet) in northern Pakistan and was rescued by military aviation pilots in the first successful rescue mission by helicopter from such a height in the country's history, the military said.
"I like the Pakistanis. I was impressed of the people of Pakistan. They are friendly, helpful and very very brave and open-minded. I was impressed,'' Gukov said.
Gukov was stranded on the 7,145 metre (23,442 feet) Latok I peak following the tragic death of his climbing partner Sergey Glazunov, who fell to his death as the pair were descending on July 25, Karrar Haidri, the secretary of Pakistan's Alpine Club said.
"The army of Pakistan, it's the best one of all. And the helicopter drivers, they're also the best ones, thanks to them as well,'' Gukov declared.
The army issued a still photograph of Gukov smiling in his hospital bed with army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa standing next to the bed.