European kayakers visit Panjshir province for the first time

A group of European kayakers have for the first time visited the northern Panjshir province of Afghanistan defying the threats amid ongoing violence in the country.

The kayakers who are search of the best white water have said Panjshir River offers some of the best kayaking in the world.

A Scot kayaker Callum Strong has told The Associated Press “It’s extreme geography that attracts extreme sportsmen, not the fact that the place is at war.”

Strong visited Panjshir together with his three friends Brit Joe Rea-Dickins, Scot James Smith and Austrian Kristof Stursa — are also recent graduates in their early 20s and amateur kayakers who met through their love of the sport.

“Before I came here, I was worried as the only news you hear from Afghanistan is bad news,” Strong said. “But I believe most places you go in the world, most people are good — and the river here looked very good, so we wanted to come.”

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