August 22, 2002	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Saani 12,1423

LONDON, Aug 21: The British government has earmarked millions of pounds to be offered to Afghan refugees to return home under a pilot scheme announced here on Wednesday.

Under the scheme, up to 2,500 pounds would be offered to each returning families and 600 pounds to every single individual.

It was learnt that up to 17,000 Afghan refugees based in the UK would be eligible for the cash compensation and a free ticket to Kabul.

A similar scheme was launched a couple of years ago to help repatriate thousands of Kosovans, who had fled during the Balkan conflict.

Under that scheme, each Kosavan refugee family was paid 1000 pounds and singles 250 pounds, each.

The cash will be paid to Afghans only after they pass through the immigration post in order to make sure that they do slip back into the country.

However, the compensation would not be available to those whose asylum applications had been rejected.

The Home Office fears that only 1,000 Afghan refugees may use the facility and the rest would prefer to stay back in Britain.