A human calamity

A human calamity of great proportion has ensued from the recent military operation in the Bajaur area. To the loss of life has been added the suffering of the living in the form of the displacement of well over 260,000 local residents: if, according to official claims, 500 militants have died since the beginning of this month, a large number of civilians must have also perished, in what would be blithely termed as "collateral damage", which is nothing but a denigration of the precious gift of life.