The United Nations refugee agency says about 300,000 Afghans have returned to their homeland from Pakistan and Iran in just seven weeks in the wake of the Taleban's ouster. 

Agency spokesman Kris Janowski told reporters in Geneva that more than 285,000 Afghans have returned from Pakistan since the voluntary repatriation program began on March 1. He said about 10,000 have left Iran under a similar program since April 9. The refugee agency now hopes to help 800,000 more Afghan refugees return home this year - which is double of its planned target. It also plans to help some 400,0000 Afghans who have been displaced within Afghanistan. Iran and Pakistan together shelter 3.5 million Afghans. 

The latest return of Afghan refugees follows the expulsion of Taleban rulers by U.S. led coalition forces, which are seeking to destroy al-Qaida terrorist network in Afghanistan. 

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