World

Photo: The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Pakistani girls stand next to a banner with the picture of Malala Yousufzai, who was shot by the Taliban for speaking out in support of education for women, during a rally in Karachi, Pakistan, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

The father of a 15-year-old Pakistani activist girl who was shot and wounded by a Taliban gunman says she'll return home after medical treatment abroad.

Ziauddin Yousufzai's comments were recorded Thursday by Pakistani state television. He's expected to fly soon to Britain to see his daughter, Malala. It was the first time he has spoken publicly since the Oct. 9 shooting in northwestern Pakistan.

Malala is respected at home and internationally for speaking out against the Taliban's atrocities and for advocating for girls' education.

She was airlifted to a hospital in Britain on Oct. 15. The Taliban have vowed to kill her, raising questions about whether it would be safe for her to return but her father promised Malala would come back as soon as she's recovered.