Malala Yousafzai has returned to her hometown in northern Pakistan for the first time since surviving a Taliban attack 13 years ago.
The 27-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate shared a heartfelt message alongside a picture of herself in the breathtaking landscape of Shangla, where she spent her childhood holidays.
In a social media post, Malala expressed her joy at finally revisiting the place she holds dear.
“As a child, I spent every holiday in Shangla, Pakistan, playing by the river and sharing meals with my extended family. It was such a joy for me to return there today – after 13 long years – to be surrounded by the mountains, dip my hands in the cold river and laugh with my beloved cousins. This place is very dear to my heart and I hope to return again and again,” she wrote.
Yousafzai was just 15 when she was shot in the head by the Taliban while travelling home from school in October 2012. The attack, which shocked the world, led to her being airlifted to Birmingham, England, for life-saving treatment.
She and her family later settled in the UK, where she went on to graduate from Oxford University and dedicate her life to advocating for girls’ education through the Malala Fund.
During her emotional visit, she was accompanied by her father, husband, and brother. According to a local police official, she met with close relatives before visiting the Shangla Girls’ High School and College, which was built with support from her foundation.
At the college, she addressed students at a special event and later paid her respects at her grandmother’s grave in the family cemetery. After spending around two and a half hours in Shangla, she departed for Islamabad. Strict security measures were in place throughout her visit.
