Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai said she was "overwhelmed" to be back in her native Pakistan on Saturday, as she attended a summit on girls' education in the Islamic world that has been snubbed by Afghanistan's Taliban government.
The summit has brought together education leaders from Muslim-majority countries, but without Afghanistan -- the only country in the world where girls are banned from school.
"The Muslim world including Pakistan faces significant challenges in ensuring equitable access to education for girls," Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said at the opening of the summit in the capital Islamabad.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kannauj-railway-station-roof-collapses-in-up-state-35-feared-trapped-8610353">India: Railway station's roof collapses in UP's Kannauj, 35 feared trapped</a>
"Denying education to girls is tantamount to denying their voice and their choice, while depriving them of their right to a bright future."
Pakistan Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui told AFP that Islamabad had extended an invitation to Kabul, "but no-one from the Afghan government was at the conference".
Muhammad al-Issa, a Saudi cleric and secretary general of the Muslim World League -- which has backed the summit -- said religion was no grounds for blocking girls from school.
"The entire Muslim world has agreed that girls education is important, and those who say that girls education is un-Islamic are wrong," he said.&nbsp;
Yousafzai, who was shot by Pakistan Taliban militants in 2012 when she was a schoolgirl, is due to address the conference on Sunday.
"I'm truly honoured, overwhelmed and happy to be back in Pakistan," she told AFP as she arrived at the conference with her parents.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/malala-yousafzai-is-a-big-time-taylor-swift-fan-says-it-was-magical-to-attend-london-concert-751249">Malala Yousafzai is a big time Taylor Swift fan, says it was 'magical' to attend London concert</a>
On Friday, she posted on social media that she would speak about "why leaders must hold the Taliban accountable for their crimes against Afghan women &amp; girls".
Since returning to power in 2021, the Afghan Taliban government has imposed an austere version of Islamic law that the United Nations has called "gender apartheid".&nbsp;
<h2>'At last'</h2>
Pakistan is facing its own severe education crisis, with more than 26 million children out of school, according to government figures, one of the highest numbers in the world.&nbsp;
Sharif said "inadequate infrastructure, safety concerns, as well as deeply entrenched societal norms" were barriers to girls education.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/explainer-india-and-the-taliban-a-brief-history-from-1996-to-2025-8609003">Explainer: India &amp; the Taliban, a brief history from 1996 to 2025</a>
Zahra Tariq, a 23-year-old studying clinical psychology who attended the opening of the summit, told AFP: "At last we have a good initiative on Muslim girls' education," said&nbsp;
"Those in rural areas are still facing problems. In some cases their families are the first barrier."
Yousafzai became a household name after she was attacked by Pakistan Taliban militants on a school bus in the remote Swat valley in 2012.
Militancy was widespread in the region at the time as the war between the Afghan Taliban and NATO forces raged across the border in Afghanistan.&nbsp;
The Pakistan and Afghan Taliban are separate groups but share close links and similar ideologies, including a strong disbelief in educating girls.
Yousafzai was evacuated to the United Kingdom after her attack and went on to become a global advocate for girls' education and, at the age of 17, the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner.&nbsp;
Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

South Asia, Pakistan: The summit has brought together education leaders from Muslim-majority countries, but without Afghanistan -- the only country in the world where girls are banned from school.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai said she was "overwhelmed" to be back in her native Pakistan on Saturday, as she attended a summit on girls' education in the Islamic world that has been snubbed by Afghanistan's Taliban government. The summit has brought together education leaders from Muslim-majority countries, but without Afghanistan -- the only country in the world where girls are banned from school. "The Muslim world including Pakistan faces significant challenges in ensuring equitable access to education for girls," Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said at the opening of the summit in the capital Islamabad. Also read: India: Railway station's roof collapses in UP's Kannauj, 35 feared trapped "Denying education to girls is tantamount to denying their voice and their choice, while depriving them of their right to a bright future." Pakistan Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui told AFP that Islamabad had extended an invitation to Kabul, "but no-one from the Afghan government was at the conference". Muhammad al-Issa, a Saudi cleric and secretary general of the Muslim World League -- which has backed the summit -- said religion was no grounds for blocking girls from school. "The entire Muslim world has agreed that girls education is important, and those who say that girls education is un-Islamic are wrong," he said. Yousafzai, who was shot by Pakistan Taliban militants in 2012 when she was a schoolgirl, is due to address the conference on Sunday. "I'm truly honoured, overwhelmed and happy to be back in Pakistan," she told AFP as she arrived at the conference with her parents. Also read: Malala Yousafzai is a big time Taylor Swift fan, says it was 'magical' to attend London concert On Friday, she posted on social media that she would speak about "why leaders must hold the Taliban accountable for their crimes against Afghan women & girls". Since returning to power in 2021, the Afghan Taliban government has imposed an austere version of Islamic law that the United Nations has called "gender apartheid". 'At last' Pakistan is facing its own severe education crisis, with more than 26 million children out of school, according to government figures, one of the highest numbers in the world. Sharif said "inadequate infrastructure, safety concerns, as well as deeply entrenched societal norms" were barriers to girls education. Also read: Explainer: India & the Taliban, a brief history from 1996 to 2025 Zahra Tariq, a 23-year-old studying clinical psychology who attended the opening of the summit, told AFP: "At last we have a good initiative on Muslim girls' education," said "Those in rural areas are still facing problems. In some cases their families are the first barrier." Yousafzai became a household name after she was attacked by Pakistan Taliban militants on a school bus in the remote Swat valley in 2012. Militancy was widespread in the region at the time as the war between the Afghan Taliban and NATO forces raged across the border in Afghanistan. The Pakistan and Afghan Taliban are separate groups but share close links and similar ideologies, including a strong disbelief in educating girls. Yousafzai was evacuated to the United Kingdom after her attack and went on to become a global advocate for girls' education and, at the age of 17, the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

'Overwhelmed' Malala back in Pakistan for girls’ education summit snubbed by Taliban

After her surprise return visit to Pakistan after five years, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai on Monday left for Britain after an emotional four-day visit to Pakistan, officials said.

"Malala Yousafzai along with her family left Islamabad," a government official told AFP.

An airport official confirmed her departure.

Malala, 20, made her return visit more than five years after she was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman for advocating girls' education.

At a reception at the Prime Minister's Office last week, Malala tearfully said during a televised speech that it was "a dream" to finally return home&nbsp;

"Always it has been my dream that I should go to Pakistan... in peace and without any fear.

"And I think that it's my old home again ... so it is actually happening, and I am grateful to all of you."

Malala briefly visited her native Swat valley over the weekend during her first trip back to the once militant-infested region where she was targeted.

"I left Swat with my eyes closed and now I am back with my eyes open," she said, referring to how she was airlifted out in a coma after the attack in 2012.

"I am extremely delighted. My dream has come true. Peace has returned to Swat because of the invaluable sacrifices rendered by my brothers and sisters," she said at a school outside Mingora, the district's main town, where she was escorted by the Pakistani military.

The trip was a highly symbolic moment for Pakistan, which regularly touts Swat as a success story in its long battle with extremism as it defends itself against accusations by the US and others that its northwest remains a safe haven for militancy.

Malala has become a global symbol for human rights and a vocal campaigner for girls` education since leaving Pakistan.

She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 and has continued her campaigning while pursuing her studies at Oxford University.

(With inputs from AFP)

After her surprise return visit to Pakistan after five years, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai on Monday left for Britain

After her surprise return visit to Pakistan after five years, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai on Monday left for Britain after an emotional four-day visit to Pakistan, officials said. "Malala Yousafzai along with her family left Islamabad," a government official told AFP. An airport official confirmed her departure. Malala, 20, made her return visit more than five years after she was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman for advocating girls' education. At a reception at the Prime Minister's Office last week, Malala tearfully said during a televised speech that it was "a dream" to finally return home "Always it has been my dream that I should go to Pakistan... in peace and without any fear. "And I think that it's my old home again ... so it is actually happening, and I am grateful to all of you." Malala briefly visited her native Swat valley over the weekend during her first trip back to the once militant-infested region where she was targeted. "I left Swat with my eyes closed and now I am back with my eyes open," she said, referring to how she was airlifted out in a coma after the attack in 2012. "I am extremely delighted. My dream has come true. Peace has returned to Swat because of the invaluable sacrifices rendered by my brothers and sisters," she said at a school outside Mingora, the district's main town, where she was escorted by the Pakistani military. The trip was a highly symbolic moment for Pakistan, which regularly touts Swat as a success story in its long battle with extremism as it defends itself against accusations by the US and others that its northwest remains a safe haven for militancy. Malala has become a global symbol for human rights and a vocal campaigner for girls` education since leaving Pakistan. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 and has continued her campaigning while pursuing her studies at Oxford University. (With inputs from AFP)

Malala Yousafzai leaves Pakistan after emotional visit

malala-pakistan

Malala Pakistan, News on Malala Pakistan, stories on Malala Pakistan, articles on Malala Pakistan, Malala Pakistan stories at Wion, Malala Pakistan news, Malala Pakistan latest news

malala pakistan

'Overwhelmed' Malala back in Pakistan for girls’ education summit snubbed by Taliban

Malala Yousafzai leaves Pakistan after emotional visit