Oh dear, bad day, sad day.

First the news of French military officials acknowledging the killing of four Afghan civilians in a joint French-Afghan operation north of Kabul.

At least the French military seem to have learned from the mistakes of the Germans during last year’s deadly Kunduz incident, and admitted – and apologized – quickly. (See video below).

Then the news that a relative of prominent Afghan MP Safia Siddiqi was killed in a raid on her Nangahar house.

The last time I met Siddiqi was at a Pashto poetry competition in Kandahar, where we comprised two of a grand total of four women in a room of about 1,500 Pashto poetry-loving men. (Click here for 'The Tale of the Pashtun Poetess.)

Siddiqi is a distinguished poet and a formidable woman. Expect her to kick up a formidable – and eloquent – storm about the latest mishap.

Now the Kandahar operation is brewing. It’s necessary, but it will be tough. Compared to this one, the Marjah operation is a picnic in the fields.