Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai has expressed her grief after a suicide bombing in Pakistan's Swat Valley killed at least 14 people, including nine civilians and five police officers. The attack took place in Kabal town, where residents had gathered to protest against rising militancy and demand greater security.

The blast struck as demonstrators chanted slogans calling for peace and urged the authorities to fulfil their responsibility to protect civilians. The attack has renewed concerns over growing militant activity in the region, once controlled by the Taliban.

Malala recalls Swat's troubled past

The Swat Valley, where Malala was born and raised, was once a Taliban stronghold before a military operation drove militants out in 2007. Growing up in Mingora, she witnessed girls being barred from attending school and hundreds of educational institutions being destroyed.

As a child, Malala began speaking out against the restrictions imposed by the Taliban. She wrote an anonymous blog for the BBC describing life under militant rule and the fear that gripped the valley. Her activism made her a target, and in 2012 she survived an assassination attempt after being shot on her school bus.

Following treatment in the UK, she settled in Birmingham, where she continues to campaign globally for girls' education through the Malala Fund.

'Heartbroken' by attack on civilians seeking peace

Responding to the attack in a post on X, Malala said she was "heartbroken" by the bombing in her hometown.

"I’m heartbroken about the suicide attack in my hometown of Swat Valley, Pakistan, which killed more than a dozen police officers and people. I can’t imagine the pain of the victims’ families and extend my deepest condolences to them."

She noted that the attack occurred while civilians were protesting against increasing militancy and terrorism.

"The attack happened while civilians were gathered to protest the increase in militancy and terrorism. As the number of terrorist attacks, particularly in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, has increased, I urge the government and security officials to prioritise safety and protection."

Malala also said the people of Swat, especially girls, had spent years hoping for peace after enduring Taliban rule.

"Girls from Swat Valley have yearned for normalcy and peace for many years, and I pray the people of Swat are never again subjected to life under the Taliban."

Rising militant violence raises alarm

The bombing comes amid a reported increase in militant attacks across Pakistan. According to official figures cited in reports, more than 3,000 terrorism-related incidents have been recorded since the beginning of the year, with many linked to militant groups operating across the border in Afghanistan.

Malala urged the Pakistani government and security agencies to make public safety their top priority. Her appeal reflects continuing fears that Swat, once devastated by Taliban violence, could again face growing militant influence. For Malala, whose advocacy began in the valley where she grew up, the latest attack is both a national tragedy and a deeply personal loss.