UN: The outgoing UN special envoy to Afghanistan warned on Wednesday that the international mission in the country would fail if the strategy is not changed.

Kai Eide told the Security Council that he was “deeply worried about negative trends” in Afghanistan, warning they could become unmanageable if not reversed soon. His statements come despite notable achievements by the world body in the areas of education, health and institution building since US-led forces ousted the Taliban in 2001.

“I am worried about growing impatience in public opinion in donor and troop-contributing countries about the frustration in the Afghan public over what they see as a failure to meet their expectations,” he said.

Eide, who is to relinquish his post in March, also alluded to the difficulties NATO-led and Afghan troops were having in confronting the emboldened insurgency. “If these negative trends are not soon reversed, then there is a risk that they will become unmanageable,” he added. The envoy also urged peace and reconciliation between the Kabul government and the insurgents.

“A peace and reconciliation process must be launched and become an integral part of the political agenda,” he noted. “It must be based on the Constitution and must be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned.” “If the insurgency agrees to join a peace process, then this will significantly enhance the prospects of (foreign) troop withdrawals,” he added.

But Eide stressed that the Afghan rebels must “distance themselves from the past and embrace the future as well as the progress that has been achieved in Afghanistan.” The world body was ready to promote such reconciliation, he added.

Eide also appealed for a new transition strategy “which can allow Afghans to be in charge of their own future” based on a “systematic buildup of civilian institutions to enable the government to deliver services and the development of the Afghan economy.” “If we do not take these civilian components of the transition strategy as seriously as the military component, then we will fail,” he added.

Eide said the London conference on Afghanistan scheduled for January 28 must agree on a “politically-driven strategy where Afghan ownership and capacity stand at the centre of our activities.” He warned that the ongoing military surge by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force “must not lead to an accelerated pressure for quick results in governance and economic development efforts, which could divert resources from a long-term approach to civilian institution building and economic development.” Eide is to step down as UN envoy after being criticised over his handling of the fraud-marred election in Afghanistan in August.