These pictures show the 'real Afghanistan' as captured by an ex-British soldier whose eyes have been opened to the war-torn country's hidden beauty. Former paratrooper Paul Hutchings spent months photographing Afghan people on a personal mission to show a side of the country away from the suicide bombings and gun-battles. The 41-year-old spent months gaining the trust of ordinary Afghans to capture these intimate portraits of the lives of the poor and needy. Young girls smile as they are bought popcorn in Bamyan Province, Afghanistan: These pictures show the 'real Afghanistan' as captured by ex-soldier Paul Hutchings, whose eyes have been opened to its hidden beauty Elyas, aged 17 months old, poses with a toy AK47: The real thing is a familiar sight in Bamyan Province, where Mr Hutchings now works as a private security contractor. He can't be specific on his role for security reasons Chefs in a restaurant hang their washing inside the kitchen to dry: