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Afghanistan is once again facing a deteriorating security situation. In Helmand, the country's largest province, the Taliban were able to make significant inroads and seriously challenge Afghan security forces. To make the situation even worse, the military successes of the Jihadist insurgent groups come at a time when the national government suffers from internal conflicts, deepening the existing rift between Afghanistan's leading political figures, President Abdullah Abdullah and the Chief Executive of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani. Considering the resurgence of the Jihadist insurgents and the fragile domestic political structure, New Delhi offered Kabul "full support for boosting Afghanistan's defence capabilities to preserve its unity and territorial integrity".

The impact of the Internet on politics and electoral campaigns is the focus of considerable—and, as yet, unsettled—debate. This article focuses on the manner in which the Bharatiya Janata Party—which became the first party since 1984 to win an absolute majority in India's parliament—engaged citizen supporters in the party's successful social media campaign. Employing data from interviews with party functionaries and volunteers, we examine the extent to which interaction with supporters represented an effort to shift away from the traditional top-down model of campaigning toward a participatory approach.

Following the attack at an Indian Air Base in Pathankot Punjab on January 2 by Pakistani terrorists that killed seven military personnel and wounded several others, and the subsequent attack on the Indian consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif in Afghanistan, Indo-Pak relations are in a familiar conundrum and a sense of deja vu pervades the current situation. The militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad close to Pakistani intelligence is believed to be behind the attack. Whether the Army in Pakistan was aware or complicit in the attack is unclear (although quite likely) with contrary assessments emerging. However, India's response has been predictable - Pakistan needs to act firmly against the terrorists or the scheduled foreign secretary level talks will be suspended. On a highly refreshing note, Pakistani authorities have exhibited prompt action, conducted several raids and arrests based on inquiries and Indian evidence, and even created a Joint Investigations Team.

A couple of weeks after Pakistan's new Chief of Army Staff (COAS)General Oamar Bajwa took over the reins from General Raheel Sharif,Lieutenant General Naveed Mukhtar was appointed Director General (DG) of the country's powerful spy agency Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) on December 12th. According to some analysts, these two new appointments could be part of a major reshuffle in the military's top brass, which might initiate political changes, especially in its foreign policy or in the country's unhealthy civil-military relations.

There has been never-ending debate concerning the right to a healthy environment and the extent to which the law has provided for or guaranteed the right in national and international contexts. Whilst some countries have expressly recognised the right to a healthy environment in their constitutions and subsidiary laws, others have relied on regional instruments and treaties to guarantee such rights, especially where domestic legislation is either lacking, inadequate or ineffective. This article will contend that constitutionalising (rather than regionalising before a human rights commission or treaty) environmental rights domestically would improve environmental outcomes in Nigeria. To further buttress the constitutionalisation argument, this article will undertake a critical analysis of the right to the environment in South Africa which has constitutionalised the right to the environment.