This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing BBC News.
In the office of Governor Abdullah Sarhadi in Jawzjan province, northern Afghanistan, a young woman asks for a divorce from her husband, whom she accuses of months of abuse and beatings. The 18-year-old, her face hidden behind a full-face veil and sunglasses, argues her case calmly and confidently.
"If there was any chance to live together, I wouldn't be here… I have taken my decision," she says.
The governor tries to persuade her to avoid divorce, later commenting that women are "mindless" and "deficient in intellect", to laughter from the male officials around him.
The moment gives a rare glimpse into the daily realities of Taliban rule, five years after they swept aside the US-backed government in 2021. Since then, women have been excluded from most workplaces, banned from universities, and may not travel alone or visit parks and leisure centres.
Over two years, the BBC gained unusual access to influential figures in the movement, including former suicide attack planners and underground fighters who are now officials and soldiers. They seem to want to present themselves as reasonable but are reluctant to discuss their past violence.
Governor Sarhadi tells Tuba (not her real name) to stay in the marriage: "Ask yourself: 'Who would marry me after I get my divorce?' You'll have to compromise a lot or you'll lose your dignity and honour."
"Mr Governor, my honour and dignity have already been ruined," she responds.
Under Sharia, a woman requesting a divorce may have to return some or all of the bride price. This woman's husband demands four times the amount, which her family refuses to pay.
The governor suggests giving her a separate room and says officials will warn him not to beat her - "otherwise he'd be jailed". Tuba's father later tells the BBC the family will pursue divorce through the courts, though it is very difficult without the husband's consent under the Taliban's court system.
Sarhadi was a military commander during the Taliban's first stint in power in the 1990s. He surrendered in late 2001 when a US-led coalition ousted the group. He was held for several years in Guantanamo Bay but eventually released.
When the Taliban regained power, he became governor - first in Bamiyan, then in Sheberghan. He has recently become deputy commander of a military corps in Kunduz province.
Tapping on an old-style mobile, he says a recent ban on smartphones for officials has slowed things down: "Before, you could send a quick message… sending documents and getting an answer fast." If he says more about the ban, "it will cause trouble", he adds.
His worldview seems largely unchanged from 25 years ago. Asked about the destruction of the ancient Buddha statues in Bamiyan, he initially avoids the question but eventually says: "I destroyed it with my own hands. Whatever we did and we do is in accordance with the guidance and God's law… We smash idols rather than sell them. Why should I regret? It was God's will."