By Kai Eide
Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Afghanistan
6 March 2010
Introduction
This year will be the most challenging we have faced since the fall of the Taliban. It is a year when negative trends will have to be reversed or they could become irreversible. Following two years of strong headwinds and a long period of political uncertainty, new political energy must urgently be mobilised. Furthermore, a change of mindset is required by the Afghan Government and the international community. If such changes cannot be produced soon, the overall situation will continue to deteriorate and become irreparable.