2 Pakistani schoolgirls to be honored

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ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Two Pakistani girls injured in a Taliban attack will be given a medal usually reserved for members of the military, the interior minister said Saturday.

Rehman Malik said Kainat Riaz Ahmed and Shazia Ramzan are to be honored for their bravery, CNN reported. Both girls were injured in the attack on a school van Oct. 9 that almost killed its target, Malala Yousufzai, a schoolgirl and outspoken advocate for women's education.

Malala remains in a British hospital. The other girls were less seriously injured and were treated in Pakistan.

Kainat, in a hospital interview, said she was not deterred by the attack.

"I want to tell all the girls to continue their mission to get an education," she told CNN. "Girls' education here is more important than boys' because boys can do any sort of work. However, girls can't just do any sort of job. Girls must have respectful jobs so that they can feel secure."

Sitara-e- jurrat, or star of courage is the country's third-highest award for military members and is rarely given to civilians.