Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teenager shot in the head by the Taliban, has been able to stand with help for the first time.

The 15 year old's doctors say she is not out of the woods yet, but is making solid progress.

"She is standing with some help for the first time this morning," said Dave Rosser, medical director at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. "She is communicating very freely, she is walking."

Malala is still unable to talk because of a breathing tube but she is able to communicate through writing.

The chief concern, according to doctors, is infection.

"Malala is still showing some signs of infection which is probably related to the bullet track, some infection in the bullet track, which is our key source of concern," Rosser told reporters.

Police are still investigating the shooting. They believe Malala was targeted because she stood up for female education and spoke out against the Taliban.