The Taliban has very kindly clarified that husbands in Afghanistan may beat their wives, provided they do not break any bones. How thoughtful. One can almost imagine a government circular being issued. “Citizens are advised to keep domestic discipline within orthopaedic limits.” Perhaps next they will introduce a measuring tape…


Robert Clements is a newspaper columnist and writes a daily column, which has graced the pages of over 60 newspapers and magazines, from a daily column in the Khaleej Times, Dubai, the Morning Star, London, and in nearly every state in India, from The Statesman in Kolkata, to the Kashmir Times in Kashmir to the Trinity Mirror in Chennai.