February 16, 2006: Over the past year or so, the level of attacks in Afghanistan by the Taliban and other opposition groups, including inter-group fighting, have averaged about 50 a week (the normal "range" seems to be between 40 and 60), though peaking during the September elections at about three times that many. About half of the attacks have been "effective," in that they have caused casualties or damage considered harmful to the security and stability of Afghanistan.
Unlike Iraq, where many of the attacks have been by suicide bombers against civilians, most attacks in Afghanistan have not been by suicide bombers (though these have recently been increasing) and about 75 percent of them have been against Afghan or Coalition security forces. Well over half the attacks have occurred in the eastern and southern parts of the country, in regions adjacent to Pakistan.