Her opposition to the policy of Talibanisation made her unpopular in Pakistan among Taliban sympathisers.[183][184] A Dawn columnist said she was scapegoated by the "failing state government,"[183] and a journalist in The Nation wrote Yousafzai was hated by "overzealous patriots" who were keen to deny the oppression of women in Pakistan.[184] Her statements conflicted with the view that militancy in Pakistan was a result of Western interference,[152] and conservatives and Islamic fundamentalists described her ideology as "anti-Pakistan".[185][186]
In 2015, the All Pakistan Private Schools Federation (APPSF) banned her autobiographical book, I Am Malala, at all Pakistani private schools, with the APPSF president Mirza Kashif Ali releasing his own book against her, I Am Not Malala.[187] His book accused Yousafzai of attacking the Pakistan Armed Forces under the pretence of female education, described her father as a "double agent" and "traitor", and denounced the Malala Fund's promotion of secular education. However, Ali pointed out that the APPSF had gone on a national strike when Yousafzai was attacked by the Pakistani Taliban.[188] Conspiracy theorists in newspapers and social media also alleged that Yousafzai had staged her assassination attempt, or that she was an agent of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).[153][152] Many Pakistanis view her as an "agent of the West",[189] due to her Nobel prize, Oxford education and residence in England.[190] Another conspiracy theory alleges that Yousafzai is a Jewish agent.[190][185] Farman Nawaz argued in Daily Outlook Afghanistan that Yousafzai would have gained more fame in Pakistan if she belonged to the province of Punjab.[191] Yousafzai is seen as courageous by some Pakistanis.[185]
On 29 March 2018, Yousafzai returned to Pakistan for the first time since the shooting. Meeting Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi,[192] she gave a speech in which she said it had been her dream to return without any fear.[193] Yousafzai then visited her hometown Mingora in Swat District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.[194] Malala vowed to return to her country after studies and responding to criticism said "I am proud of my religion and country."[186]
Controversies
On 7 August 2019, following the Indian revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, Malala urged the UN to help Kashmiri children go safely back to school in response to Indian govt's lockdown and communications blackout in the Kashmir valley and expressed her concern about the situation and appealed to the international community to ensure peace in Jammu and Kashmir.[195] People in India accused her of spreading the "Pakistani agenda" over the Kashmir conflict, and being selective in condemning human rights abuses[196][197][198] while in Pakistan she was criticized for being late in her response.[199]
On October 7, 2023 since the start of Gaza Israel conflict, Malala has drawn criticism for being silent over Israel's onslaught on Gaza and her inefficient support to Palestine.[6][7] Malala was slammed over a Broadway musical she co-produced with former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who rejected calls for ceasefire in Gaza.[11] After severe backlash Yousafzai reaffirmed her support for people of Gaza and called for a ceasefire.[8]
