In a city more closely associated with real gunfire and explosions, paintballing may be the last thing that comes to mind.
But in deeply conservative Kabul, dozens of Afghans flock to the Oqab Paintball Club each week to to take their mind off decades of war.
. KABUL, Afghanistan. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani
Oqab, which means “eagle” in Farsi, opened in Kabul last summer and draws dozens of Afghans of all ages each week, donning combat vests and helmets and shooting bullets packed with colourful paint.
The club has 18 permanent members registered with the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee, among them six women.
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. KABUL, Afghanistan. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani
Women adjust their goggles before their paintball game.
. KABUL, Afghanistan. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani
Members of the club load paintball bullets into a gas-powered gun.
. KABUL, Afghanistan. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani
A member of Oqab paintball club talks to the participants before the game begins.