ISLAMABAD, 10 May (UNHCR) - The governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan joined the UN Refugee Agency on Monday in celebrating two landmarks in the programme to help Afghans return home - the departure of 100,000 from Pakistan to Afghanistan so far in 2004 and the return of two million since the UN voluntary repatriation operation began two years ago.

Guenet Guebre-Christos, Representative of UNHCR in Pakistan, said in praising a quarter of a century of help by the people and Government of Pakistan, that there were two occasions that pleased members of the UN Refugee Agency - when refugees receive asylum and when they feel safe to return to their homeland.

"This a moment for us at UNHCR, on behalf of the High Commissioner and the team in Pakistan, to express thanks and gratitude to the people and government of Pakistan for being so generous, so kind and so magnanimous with hospitality," she said.

"Certainly it has not been easy and I am sure that they are gratified with their achievement in supporting you," she said to Afghans who had assembled before boarding their loaded trucks and buses for the trip to Afghanistan.

Millions of Afghans have found refuge in Pakistan, arriving in waves triggered by the Soviet invasion of 1979 and the later civil wars. The UNHCR voluntary repatriation programme, which assists refugees who ask for help to return to Afghanistan, began in March 2002. In the wake of the removal of the Taliban rulers in Kabul, more than 1.5 million Afghans flooded back from Pakistan in the first year.

The number slowed to about 350,000 last year - still the largest UN-aided repatriation anywhere in 2004 - but has accelerated this year, with the greatest flow normally in the May-August period. A further 500,000 Afghans are expected to return in 2005.

"With the aid of different countries the process of reconstruction in Afghanistan has begun," said Minister Sherpao. "Schools, roads, hospitals and drinking and irrigation water facilities are being constructed. The security situation is getting better with each passing day."

"I know there are generations of you who were born here, educated here, worked here - but still want to return to your country because that's where you belong and that is the place you love the most, although you haven't even seen that place," he said.

The repatriation programme is carried out under a Tripartite Agreement between UNHCR and the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan that runs until March 2006. Returning Afghans receive a travel grant, ranging from $3 to $30 per person, plus a cash grant of $8 each to provide basic necessities on arrival.

The money is paid at UNHCR offices inside Afghanistan. In addition, all refugees over the age of six years who wants help to return must go through a computerized iris recognition check before departure to ensure they do not receive assistance twice.

"Today is a very happy day, as my Afghan brethren, after years of wait, can finally return to Afghanistan of their own free will with the help of Pakistan and UNHCR," said Rehmat Ullah Mussa Ghazi, Minister-Counselor of the Afghan Embassy.

UNHCR is also assisting the return of Afghans from Iran. Since that programme began two years ago more than 700,000 Afghans have gone home from Iran, more than 430,000 with UNHCR help and the rest on their own.