Father Of Shot Pakistani Girl Describes Her Survival As Miraculous

Malala Yousafzai is seen with her father Ziauddin and her two younger brothers, Khushal Khan and Atal Khan (right), as she recuperates at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham on October 26.

The father of a Pakistani girl shot in the head by the Taliban is describing his daughter's survival and ongoing recovery as miraculous.

Ziauddin Yousafzai, the father of 15-year-old Malala Yousafzai, told reporters after visiting her at a hospital in the central British city of Birmingham that her family thought she would die after she was shot on October 9.

But he said that "she is recovering at an encouraging speed and we are very happy."

The Pakistani Taliban says it shot the young girl, who had gained international recognition for advocating for girls' education, because she promoted so-called Western thinking and secularism.

Malala was airlifted from Pakistan to receive specialist medical care in Britain on October 15.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP