An Afghan social media account has revealed a tourism pitch unlike any other in a bid to court Western travellers, reshape the nation's global image and revive its shattered economy.
The slick marketing video, shared across social media by Afghanistan in Arabic (@afghanarabc), opened with what at first glance resembled a scene from a horrific Islamist terror-style execution video.
Five heavily armed men are seen standing over three prisoners whose heads are covered by black bags.
'We have one message for America', the leader declares menacingly.
He promptly tears the bag off the head of the hostage kneeling below him - only to reveal a man flashing a cheesy grin and a thumbs-up before exclaiming in an enthusiastic American drawl: 'Welcome to Afghanistan!'
