Pandoc convert/export md to docx produces square brackets around headings

What I’m trying to do

use pandoc to convert to docx.
Converted ok but I’m getting faint square brackets around headings. I cannot select them or get rid of them.

Pandoc version and system

pandoc 3.2.1
Features: +server +lua
Scripting engine: Lua 5.4

Windows 11 Pro – version 10.0.26120 Build 26120 – 64 GB Ram
Processor AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 8-Core Processor, 3593 MHz

Things I have tried

Upgrade pandoc to latest edition (2024-07-09).

Run pandoc md to docx from terminal instead of Obsidian-plugin.

Convert a doc with only headers in it:

# Header 1
## Header 2
### Header 3

pandoc minimal.md -o minimal.docx

Same problem with faint braces (I have a screenshot but can’t post it, I’m new here.).

Convert to odt

pandoc minimal.md -o minimal.odt

Same problem with faint braces. Brackets for Header 2 are in italic in .odt, not in .docx (I have screenshot but can’t post it. I’m new here.).

Convert to html to docx

pandoc minimal.md -o minimal.html

looks fine. Then:

pandoc minimal.html -o minimal.docx

Faint brackets are back again.

What it is not

It is not an issue ‘Wiki-links not removed when exporting from markdown’.
‘Pandoc md to docx’ converts links, images (imgur url) and all headers just fine.
Except for the faint square brackets. They appear where a header exists rather than a wikilink. IE where there is one or more “# ” in the md.

What I hope to find

(1) A way to use pandoc without getting the faint brackets in ms word docx. I love Markdown and Obsidian for writing. I need to be able to export to ms word.

(2) Plan B. If (1) is not possible a workaround/way to get rid of the faint brackets. I can’t select, find&replace or delete them and when I select all text (ctrl-a) and copy&paste the text to another doc, they are still there.

I’ve been looking around the web and over here. I found no answers, just one person having the same problem.
https://forum.obsidian.md/t/pandoc-export-to-docx-produces-square-brackets-around-headings/67824

Anybody ideas? So much appreciated.