At top, books sit unread on a school shelf. Below are garments worn by Muslim Afghan women who must cover themselves from head to toe
RELATED VIDEO
CNN's Brent Sadler brings us a rare inside look at life in Afghanistan
Real	28K	56K
Windows Media	28K	56K
IMAGE GALLERY
Afghanistan under the Taliban: CNN takes an exclusive look at what is perhaps the world's strictest Islamic state

KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- The war-ravaged capital of Afghanistan has now been under the rule of the Islamic Taliban for two years. The fundamentalist regime has governed every facet of life; men must pray five times a day and wear beards, while women are forced to cover themselves from head to toe and are denied education and work.

Such measures have earned the Taliban international condemnation and few friends. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are among the few Islamic states that have recognized the Taliban as Afghanistan's legitimate government.

The Taliban's efforts to blockade what it considers corrupt Western values include a blanket ban on television and music. Laws against taking pictures of any living person or creature have also kept a veil of secrecy around the country.

CNN's Brent Sadler was permitted to speak to a few Kabul residents off-camera and offers an exclusive view on life in the capital.