ISLAMABAD: Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner and education activist, Friday appreciated the role of former Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani in her treatment after she was shot in the head by the Taliban militants in 2012 in Swat.
Malala, who is pursuing a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University, spoke to Hamid Mir, anchor of Geo News programme Capital Talk, in her first interview to a news channel since returning to Pakistan.
“My treatment here (Pakistan) was by army doctors and if they had not done my surgery in time, I would not be here today,” she said. The 20-year-old also thanked the army and government for the role they played in her return to the country, adding that without them this would not have been possible.
Malala said she was planning a permanent return to Pakistan after completing her education. "My plan is to return to Pakistan as this is my country. I have the same right on the country as any another Pakistani,” Malala said.
Malala reiterated her joy of being in Pakistan and her mission of providing education to children. “We want to work for the education of children and make it possible that every girl in Pakistan receives a high-level education and she can fulfil her dreams and become a part of society,” she said.
When asked if she saw a difference in the Pakistan of 2012 and 2018, Malala said: "Certainly there is a difference and things are improving. People in our country are uniting for a better Pakistan. People are active, which is a very good thing.”
In the interview, she expressed concern over 'baseless propaganda and criticism' on her especially by ‘well-educated’ people in Pakistan. Malala said she wanted to know who was behind the malicious campaign against her, adding that she avoids watching news on television and going through negative comments on her social media posts in order to remain 'focused and positive'.
Malala also mentioned her fellow students Shazia and Kainat -- who were also injured when the Taliban attacked Malala in 2012. The two completed their tenth grade in Wales and now are pursuing higher education at Edinburgh University in Scotland, she said.
A hospital, being built by Malala Fund, will enable women from getting treatment in their locality instead of traveling outside the village, she said.
Responding to a question about helping the injured students of Army Public School for their medical treatment in England through the Malala Fund, the 20-year-old said, “We should help others not only by money but with our attitude and gestures.”
In response to a question about her role models, Malala said the nation had just lost one of the best role models, Asma Jahangir. “When you translate bravery into human body, you can call her Asma Jahangir.”
She expressed faith in the Pakistani youth's ability and passion to bring a change. "They are lucky to have many role models like you (Hamid Mir) to follow," she told the interviewer. Discussing her future endeavours, she remarked that Pakistan and Nigeria had topped the list for most numbers of girls outside schools. A school for girls, under construction in her hometown of Shangla in Swat district, will become the first secondary school in the area, Malala said.
To a question, she said the issue of Kashmir should be resolved according to the wishes of the Kashmiris. She said peace should return to Kashmir. She said the Fata people should also be given their rights. She said in her opinion, the best solution to the Fata issue is its merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Malala returned to Pakistan in a surprise visit in the early hours of Thursday. She met Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and addressed a gathering at the PM House. “I am very happy and still can’t believe that this is happening…In the past five years I had always dreamt of stepping foot in my country,” Malala said as she slightly broke down speaking about her return.
