-Introduction
-Pre-Soviet History
-Pashtun People
-Soviet Invasion
-The Afghan Girl
-End of Occupation
-Taliban Rule
-The Search
-Sharbat's Identity
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Following the September 11th, attack on the World Trade Center and the United States launching a devastating campaign against the Taliban in Afghanistan, National Geographic decided to write an article representing the common people of Afghanistan and the hardships they had endured through years of violent conflict in their land. It was decided that finding the Afghan Girl or what her fate had become, would provide a dynamic look into the troubled path of these people and their youths.

Teaming up with National Geographic Explorer, McCurry began the search where he first took the photo of the Afghan Girl in a refugee camp near Peshawar, Pakistan. The teacher at the school could not provide any good leads, and although several women were indicated, none could match the piercing gaze of the Afghan Girl. Finally, a village elder thought he recognized the girl and the woman she had become. After contacting her brother the team began the journey to her home inside Afghanistan. After the war with the Soviet's subsided she had moved back to Afghanistan with her family.

Due to the cultural restrictions in Afghan, the team had to first receive the permission of the woman's husband before she could be seen in the presence of the almost entirely male production team. After much discussion, McCury was allowed to photograph the woman, and her name finally became known. Sharbat Gula.

The National Geographic team worked to verify that this was in fact the Afghan Girl. Taking pictures to be analyzed by experts to confirm her identity.