Pakistani girl shot by Taliban remains target

The Taliban will keep trying to kill the 14-year-old schoolgirl activist they shot in Pakistans Swat Valley, the girls cousin has told the CBCs As It Happens radio program.

Malala Yousafzai wascritically wounded by a gunman who stopped the van that was taking her home from school on Tuesday. The Taliban said she was targeted for promoting the education of girls and for opposing the militants.

Young Malala underwent surgery Wednesday to remove a bullet from her neck and remains in a medically-induced coma. "Shes slowly and gradually recovering now," her cousin toldAs It Happens.

But in an exclusive interview, Azizulhassan Yousafzai said if his cousin does regain her health, she and her family willbe in great danger.

"If she survives, I assure you they will attack again," Yousafzai said. "They want to kill our whole family her father, her brother, her mother. The Taliban are like a crazy bull they can never be stopped."

Proud family

Despite the ongoing threat, he says thefamily remains proud of her advocacy. "'If my daughter dies for such a great causeI will never regret it,'" Yousafzai quoted the girls father as saying.

Her father, who used to run a girls school, is one of the two great influences in Malalas life, Yousafzai said. The other was former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated by militants in a 2007 attack.

Yousafzai revealed that the whole family is now living under the governments protection. But he noted how some Pakistani politicians and celebrities, while expressing sympathy for his cousins plight, are still reluctant to condemn those behind her shooting.

"They cant condemn [the] Taliban because they are afraid," he said. "Malalacondemned the acts of [the] Taliban very openly."

But he said many in Pakistan wont speak out because they fear for their lives and for their childrens lives. As a result, he said "the terrorists they are free to kill innocent people. They are power-crazed bullies."

Outrage builds

Malalas shootingoutraged many in Pakistan, where she was admired for her outspoken courage and advocacy. Three years ago, when she was just 11, she began writing a blog for the BBCabout life under the Taliban. She used a pseudonym then, but later went public todenounce the Taliban's policies and its atrocities.

Yousafzai said his cousins supporters can be assured that her fight will go on.

"We are proud of Malalawhat she has done," he said. "That is for our nationthat is for change...it is for humanity."

"If she dies,we will be proud of her. And if she lives, she will continue her mission."

The full interview with Azizulhassan Yousafzai can be heard on As It Happens on Wednesday, beginning at 6:30 p.m.