Noshaq is located in the north west corner of Afghanistan along the Durand line which is the formal border of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The mountain has four separate peaks, of which the Main Summit is the second highest in the Hindu Kush Range, and the 68th tallest on Earth. It was first ascended in 1960 along the South East ridge from the Qadzi Deh Glacier in Afghanistan by Japanese and Polish teams, but since then the West ridge, also from Qadzi Deh, has become the normal route with several groups attempting each year. The Afghan route follows the west ridge from where it is a relatively straightforward ascent and a Polish expedition in 1973 made the first winter ascent successfully. During the Russian war the low Sad Istragah pass was used as a Mujahedin supply route and some of the adjoining areas around Qazi Deh was heavily mined which otherwise make it a potential risk route. Nowadays, the normal route is by Pakistan as arrangement in Pakistan follow a steady policy of regulation which has now considerably eased out also the route being technical makes it all the more tough and interesting.