A BBC journalist was stunned when she received a phone call directly to her mobile from the Taliban while she was live on air.
Newsreader Yalda Hakim, who was born in Afghanistan and has worked for the BBC for nine years, looked flustered as she picked up the call.
Answering the phone to the Taliban's spokesperson, she tried to keep her composure as she smoothly fired questions.
The conversation came as insurgents from the Islamist group advanced into Kabul, Afghanistan this weekend.
Scrambling to ensure viewers could hear the spokesperson, she said: "Okay, we have got the Taliban's spokesperson Shail Shaheen on the line. Mr Shaheen, can you hear me?"
The Taliban spokesperson confirmed that he could, before launching into a speech promising "peace".
"There should not be any confusion, we are sure the people of Afghanistan in the city of Kabul, that their properties and their lives are safe," he said.
"There will be be no revenge on anyone. We are the servants of the people and of this country.
"Our leadership has instructed our forces to remain at the gate of Kabul, not to enter the city. We are awaiting a peaceful transfer of power."
He did not dismiss the possibility that practices such as stoning, amputations of hands and feet and public executions could be used again.
"I can't say right now, that's up to the judges in the courts and the laws," he said.
He added: "The judges will be appointed according to the law of the future government."
With the country on the brink of collapse, the spokesperson confirmed Afghanistan would return to Sharia law, adding: "Of course, we want Islamic government."
He also said the groups "policy" is that women and girls will continue to have access to education and work.
However, that is not what reports suggest is happening on the ground amid the Taliban's lightning advance following the withdrawal of US-led forces last month.
A government minister said power would be handed over to an interim administration.
Heavy fighting has broken out just seven miles from the Afghan capital, and the Ministry of Defence confirmed the UK is sending the 16 Air Assault Brigade as part of Operation Pitting.
