Green-eyed 'Afghan Mona Lisa' arrested in Pakistan

By Aamir Latif

Karachi, Pakistan (AA) – The Afghan woman whose teenage portrait became one of the most iconic photos of Afghanistan's decades-long conflict has been arrested by Pakistani authorities, who accused her of living with fake documents.

Now in her mid-40s, Sharbat Bibi was famously featured on the cover of the National Geographic magazine in the 1980s, grabbing global attention because of her green-eyes and intense gaze.

Shahid Ilyas, a spokesperson for the National Database Registration Authority, told reporters on Wednesday that Bibi had been arrested for providing incorrect information to the authorities.

He said they were investigating officials who allegedly helped Bibi obtain fake identity cards for herself and two men, who were recorded as her sons.

The investigation revealed Bibi has two daughters and a two-year old son, local English daily Dawn reported, quoting Pakistani officials.

Bibi could be sentenced to 14 years prison time under and fined between 300,000 and 500,000 Pakistani rupees ($4,700) if found guilty of fraud and forgery.

American photographer Steve McCurry's portrait of a 12-year-old Bibi in a Pakistani refugee camp in 1985 became one of his most famous pictures but she remained anonymous until he managed to track her down 17 years later after her relatives agreed to get in contact with him.