Pakistani Taliban criticises Malala Yoususzai after Nobel award

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Taliban today criticised Nobel laureate Malala Yoususzai, saying the teenage activist has entered into an agreement with "satanic forces" to promote western culture and destroy Pakistan.

In its first reaction after the 17-year-old peace activist was awarded the Nobel yesterday, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesman Mohammad Khurasani said in a statement that the was given to her to "promote western culture and not education."

He also criticised Malala's father, Ziauddin, for working against Islam and said he was using his daughter against the religion and Islamic Society.

Khurasani said both the father and the daughter have entered into an agreement with the "western satanic forces" to destroy Pakistan and Pushtun society.

The TTP spokesman lashed at the democratic system and termed it "worse than worst systems ever witnessed by the world." He said democracy was responsible for all the worries and anxieties faced by the world.

Malala survived a Taliban attack on 2012 for standing up for the right of education to girls in Pakistan.

Malala along with India's Kailash Satyarthi was jointly awarded the Nobel in Oslo for their work promoting girl education and child rights.