Malala Yousafzai has thanked the government of Pakistan and the army for making it possible to visit the country again after five years.
“I thank the government and the army for the role they have played in my return – without them this would not have been possible,” the 20-year old said in an interview to Geo TV channelled aired yesterday, her first to a TV channel on her surprise current visit.
She also appreciated the role of former army chief Ashfaq Kyani in her treatment after she was shot in the head by the Taliban militants in 2012 in Swat in northwest Pakistan.
Malala, who is pursuing a degree in philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford University, said that her initial treatment was in Pakistan by army doctors and if they had not done her surgery in time, “I would not be here today”.
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,” she said.
Malala reiterated her joy of being in Pakistan and her mission of providing education to children.
“We want to 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 propaganda against her and said 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 her in 2012.
The two completed their 10th grade in the UK and now are pursuing higher education at Edinburgh University in Scotland, she said.
A hospital, being built by Malala Fund, will enable women in her hometown to get treatment in their locality instead of travelling 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 [interviewer Hamid Mir] to follow,” she said.
She said that people in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas should be given equal their rights and supported the region’s merger with adjacent Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
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 Prime Minister 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.