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When the number of severe cases of COVID-19 began to rise late last year, Doctors Without Borders/Mdecins Sans Frontires (MSF) reopened its COVID-19 treatment center in Gazer Ga, in Herat province, Afghanistan. The facility, which supports the Ministry of Public Healths COVID-19 referral structure in Shaidayee hospital, resumed activities on December 2, 2020. Two-and-a-half months later, the average number of new hospital admissions for severe COVID-19 has dropped to around four patients a day.

The treatment centeroriginally open from June 28 to the end of September to support the response to the pandemics first wavehas 20 beds, including a 10-bed unit for patients who need oxygen but do not require intensive care. Its capacity can be increased to 32 or even 48 beds depending on the evolution of the pandemic.

MSF is continuing to follow the COVID-19 situation closely in Herat with the Ministry of Public Health and other partners in order to adapt our activity to the needs, said MSFs head COVID-19 nurse in the Melusi Mabhena region.

The first case of COVID-19 in Afghanistan was recorded in late February 2020 in Herat. The virus then quickly spread to the whole province and neighboring ones in March as tens of thousands of migrant workers passed through Herat on their way back from Iran. According to official data from the Ministry of Public Health, Herat remains the second-most affected province in Afghanistan after Kabul, with more than 9,143 confirmed cases and around 424 reported deaths.

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Afghanistan: Caring for COVID-19 patients in Herat - Doctors Without Borders

Indian Armys T-90 Bhishma tanks that have been deployed in Ladakh amid tensions with China were seen in action striking targets with precision alongside a US Navy brigade that has served in Iraq and Afghanistan as the two armies carried out war games in the Thar desert.

The US Army with their Stryker armoured vehicles paired up with the Indian infantry troops of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles to conduct a mock terror operation, flushing out terrorists from their hideout in an imaginary village that has been taken over by a rebel group.

With military cooperation being a key element to India-US cooperation, the exercise not just enhances interoperability between the two forces but also adds to the camaraderie between the two armies. A total of 240 soldiers of the US Army team are part of the exercise for which they arrived on February 5.

T-90 Bhishma tanks part of the exercise. (Photo: India Today)

From-50 degrees in Ladakh against China to 50 degrees in the deserts to challenging Pakistan, the lethal T-90 has always proven its mettle. The Indian and the US Army were war-gaming several scenarios of counter-terror operations in the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan. The exercise 'Yudh Abhyas' started on February 8 and will be concluded on February 21.

The operation named 'Zorawar' depicts the anti-terror scenario in semi-urban and urban settings.

The US Armys Ghost Brigade located in Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Seattle, which was involved in Iraq and Afghanistan operations, was part of the exercises with the Indian Army.

It has served in Iraq and Afghanistan and more recently was part of operations in Mosul, north Iraq, that had been the hub of terror group ISIS.

US Army Stryker Armoured Vehicle in action during the war games. (Photo: India Today)

The Ghost brigade with its Stryker armoured vehicles got its name back in 2003 in Iraq as it was able to carry out operations silently. The Stryker vehicle that carries troops close to the target area almost silently without the enemy getting a whiff adds to the stealth capabilities of troops on the ground. The element of surprise, many say, is almost ghost-like.

In Iraq, we gained a reputation for quickly and quietly approaching the enemy and insurgent areas. We would strike the enemy before they even knew what hit them. So, we came to be called the Ghost bridge and our motto became arrive in silence, said Maj Spencer Garrison of the US Army who is part of the brigade.

Also in action were the US-manufactured Apache attack helicopters and the Chinook heavy-lift choppers being used by the Indian forces.

Apache helicopter airdropping a military vehicle. In the background is an Apache combat helicopter. (Photo: India Today)

Both the helicopters played a key role in Ladakh during the tussle with China. While the Apache was ready for combat missions carrying out multiple sorties to be battle-ready, the Chinook undertook several sorties in a day transporting men and material to the forward locations.

During the exercise as Indian special forces personnel were airdropped from a Mi17 helicopter, the Apache hovered around giving cover to the transport choppers as the troops slithered down amid a fog of sand. In the end, it was not just the firepower on the ground but also from the air. The Indian Armys Rudra combat helicopters launched a final assault from the air. The choppers threw open a volley of fires from the air hitting the terror dens in the mock exercise before the troops could finally zero in on the ground and declare the area free of terrorists.

Tactical meeting of officers from both sides. (Photo: India Today)

This was the 16th edition of exercise 'Yudh Abhyas'. The drill has been named Zorawar in honour of legendary Dogra military commander General Zorawar Singh, popularly known as Conqueror of Ladakh.

The focus of the drill was counter-terror operations and the two armies carrying out familiarisation and handling of weapons, battlefield trauma management, casualty evacuation and counter IED drills.

Troops from both armies share a meal after an all-night-long operation. (Photo: India Today)

Talking about counter-terror joint drills, Major Sameer Puri of the US Army said, We should maintain the high level of professionalism. We should expand more such drills so that we can integrate more staff functions.

The officer who shifted to the US from India and joined the army in 1999 said there should be an officer-to-officer level of coordination and non-commissioned officer to non-commissioned officer integration so that they can learn the common language of military processes.

Major Puri said terrorism is the biggest threat to the world and it should be countered strongly. We have learnt a lot during the exercise, he said.

We were welcomed with open arms. The hospitality was more than even dreamed about. It is a great experience to have shared understanding with the Indian Army, said Captain Alicia Brown also part of the US delegation.

ALSO WATCH | India-China soldiers clash at Naku La in Sikkim: Army says 'minor' face-off resolved

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War games in Thar: US Ghost warriors of Iraq, Afghanistan team up with Indian Army to flush out terrorists - India Today

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said Afghanistan needs to be vigilant against the spoilers of peace in the war-torn country.

Talking to the Head of Massoud Foundation, Ahmed Wali Massoud in Islamabad, the Foreign Minister said Pakistan has always supported peace in Afghanistan and the world.

Foreign Minister highlighting Pakistans facilitation of the US-Taliban Peace Agreement and the commencement of Intra-Afghan Negotiations, said this historic opportunity must be seized by the Afghan leaders to achieve an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi underscored that all sides must take measures for reduction in violence, leading to ceasefire.

He said Pakistan has no favourites in Afghanistan and urged all sides to work together constructively for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan desires closer ties with Afghanistan and for the very purpose Islamabad has taken several practical steps including opening of border despite COVID-19, introduction of friendly visa regime, and scholarships for Afghan students.

The Foreign Minister reaffirmed that Pakistan, on its part, will continue to play a constructive role till achievement of desired objective of return of peace and stability in Afghanistan.

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Afghanistan needs to be vigilant against spoilers of peace in country: FM - Radio Pakistan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday sued his main opposition rival for claiming he was personally "responsible" for the deaths of 13 Turks in Iraq.

Turkey accuses outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants of executing the 13 police officers and security personnel, whom they had abducted in Turkey and held hostage in a cave in northern Iraq.

But the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey and its Western allies, said the 13 were killed by Turkish bombs dropped during a rescue operation Ankara launched last week.

The failed rescue attempt has piled political pressure on Erdogan, who has ruled Turkey as prime minister and president since 2003.

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), said in parliament on Tuesday that it was "Erdogan who is responsible for our 13 martyrs".

"You are launching an operation but all the hostages died," Kilicdaroglu said.

His comments infuriated Erdogan, whose lawyers are now seeking 500,000 Turkish liras ($72,000, 60,000 euros) in compensation for "moral damages", the Anadolu state news agency reported.

The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), parliament's second-largest opposition group, also criticised Erdogan for the failed operation, arguing that negotiations would have been more effective.

But Erdogan's right-wing allies, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), threw their support behind the government.

"Turkey is a rising power which fought in (northern Iraq) not only against the PKK but also against strategic threats," MHP leader Devlet Bahceli tweeted.

The Turkish army regularly conducts cross-border operations and air raids on PKK bases in northern Iraq.

On Wednesday, Erdogan said more than 12,900 Kurdish militants -- 6,000 at home and 6,900 abroad -- have been killed since a ceasefire with the PKK broke down in July 2015.

The PKK have been waging an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984 that is believed to have left more than 40,000 dead.

Turkey's botched rescue attempt also caused a diplomatic spat between Ankara and Washington, which initially said it was waiting for official confirmation before blaming the deaths on the PKK.

Washington blamed the group after Erdogan accused the United States of siding with "terrorists".

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Erdogan sues opposition rival in row over Iraq deaths - WION

When a wing of progressives called on Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to force a Medicare For All vote in the House, it drew a line in the sand for people on the left. #ForceTheVote was an effort that intended to ostracize Republicans and centrist Democrats who don't support an overhaul of our nation's healthcare system. AOC didn't think it was a good idea, noting that forcing a vote that doesn't have a chance in the House, let alone the Senate, could only cause friction among Democrats and harm their cause.

This disagreement created a loud faction of progressives who are now anti-AOC. They are seemingly led by comedian-turned-political talk show host Jimmy Dore, who in December said that AOC is now "standing between you and healthcare," and went on to call her a liar, gaslighter, and coward.

Unthinkably, given her standing as the highest profile progressive member of Congress, AOC saw her Twitter mentions flooded with hate-fueled banter and accusations of being a sellout and fraud.

She'll be fine, of course, as that's just part of her job. But the impulse from progressives to turn on their own and for relatively dumb reasons has become a baffling spectacle and a maddening trend that's stalled real change. Instead of infighting and bickering, progressives need to take a step back and understand what the best path to progress is.

The 2020 Democratic primaries were heated. People who were passionate about a particular candidate would sometimes wade into insults and ridicule on social media. Just about every candidate had a small but loud faction of supporters who would do this, but for whatever reason, Bernie Sanders' online faction got the most media attention. While Sanders continued to offer an inclusive agenda and even denounced the more annoying parts of his base, scores of liberals and progressives became turned off by even the thought of Sanders. They held this grudge despite his long-standing record on vital issues and humble demeanor.

This became clear when Sanders, as head of the Senate Budget Committee, asked Neera Tanden, Biden's pick to lead the Office of Budget Management, to reflect on her own attacks on social media, including personal attacks she hurled at Bernie himself. Tanden apologized for her actions, but if you looked under any tweet about the exchange, you saw countless accusations of sexism on Bernie's part, attacks on his character, and a general sense of pure hatred for the man.

This grudge against Bernie Sanders held by so-called progressives remains weird and a little bit sad, especially considering how long it's been since the primaries. The disdain for the Vermont senator even affects the people he associates with. When MoveOn, a high-profile progressive advocacy organization, endorsed Nina Turner, a former Bernie Sanders surrogate, for Congress, it was met with a wave of displeasure.

The list of pointless grudges doesn't stop there. I'll be the first to admit that I was upset with Sen. Elizabeth Warren during the 2020 primaries.

I felt that she had undermined the progressive cause not just by promoting a misleading story that implied Sen. Bernie Sanders was sexist, but also by not corralling her supporters behind him when her campaign ran out of steam.

But now that a whole year has passed, it is easy to admit that Warren is a pivotal part of the progressive agenda and should be supported as such. Many progressives, though, simply can't get over that grudge. She's still a "snake" in too many people's eyes.

These people are too petty to see that she's fighting for everything they want, including universal healthcare, a $15 minimum wage, and a cancellation of student loan debt. It will be harder for progressives to accomplish those things if people who advocate for them aren't supportive of the lawmakers who can make them happen. It's not just Warren who's been targeted by progressive grudges, either.

Like Sanders, Warren has fought for a slew of policies that progressives dream about, but for those who illogically consider them enemies of the progressive movement, that doesn't matter.

Read more: The 2 reasons Republicans can't move on from Donald Trump

As someone who spends a lot of time on Twitter pointing out the hypocrisies of politicians, I am not saying you shouldn't be skeptical of them in general. Even trivial forms of ridicule aren't so bad in the larger discourse. But people should save their real disdain for an actual policy or platform they disagree with, instead of hating on someone who's on their side, and for some trivial thing that happened more than a year ago. Debate is fine and encouraged, but the shaming and booing of one's own team is counter-productive.

Figuring out who the best options for progress are shouldn't be nearly this complicated. Think of the things you support, and support the politicians who agree with you. Naturally, when different strategies towards progress are debated, things may get heated. You might grow weary of someone and have less tolerance for them. That's totally fine, and normal even. But progressives holding these year-long grudges against other progressives can only hurt the ultimate goal.

I wish Bernie Sanders was the Democratic nominee in 2020 and I wish Elizabeth Warren, after realizing her campaign was toast, had done more to solidify his chances. But both of these officials, along with newly chastised-from-the-left AOC, have a moral fortitude that's actually pretty rare in politics. They serve us, but we have a role to play in their success. We just have to be smart about it.

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Pointless infighting among progressives is becoming exhausting and harmful - Business Insider