Taliban Commander Calls Shooting of Malala Yousafzai "Shocking"

Urging the young education activist to come back to Pakistan

PESHAWAR, Pakistan—A senior Taliban commander has described the attempted assassination of activist Malala Yousafzai as "shocking" and urged her to return home to Pakistan.

In a open letter to the young education campaigner, Adnan Rashid said he wished the attack by Taliban militants had "never happened."

However, Rashid did not apologize for the attack and said he would not discuss whether the Taliban's murder bid was "correct or wrong" or whether Malala "deserved to be killed or not."

"Let's leave it to Allah almighty," he added. "He is the best judge."