The government believes that recent al Qaeda and Taliban attacks are an attempt to derail the September legislative elections. While this tactic failed against the presidential election, the legislative elections are more vulnerable. In dozens of pro-Taliban areas, the election of local members of parliament can be influenced by the violence. In other words, terrorist violence may be able to get members of parliament elected who are favorably disposed towards Islamic radicals. Along the Pakistani border, there is also talk of ISI (the Pakistani CIA) plotting to influence the legislative elections assassinating Afghan leaders and subsidizing anti-government forces. There's no proof of this, but the Pakistani connection is widely believed in the area.