Sharbat Gula, better known as the ‘Afghan Girl’ from the iconic National Geographic cover by Steve McCurry, will be deported from Pakistan following her arrest for using false identity papers.

Gula was arrested in October following a crackdown by Pakistani authorities over false Computerised National Identity Cards being used by non-nationals.

Gula served 11 days of her 15 day sentence  and is currently in hospital in Peshawar being treated for Hepatitis C.

In an interview with CNN she said she wants to return to Afghanistan, where she hasn’t lived since 2003. “I don't want to go anywhere but Afghanistan," she said.

Gula is a widow and has two remaining children. She left Afghanistan and lived in the Nasir Bagh refugee camp near Peshawar where she was photographed by McCurry in 1984.

Her nephew also spoke to CNN and said his aunt “never understood her fame, or the reason for it, which is why she hasn’t capitalized on it.”

Steve Mc Curry, the photographer who captured Gula’s striking image in 1984 shared a post on Instagram Friday expressing his joy that she would be returning home.

(RT)