By Catherine Davis BBC correspondent in Kabul

The scene was chaotic. As the 21 deportees filed into Kabul's airport building, the waiting media surged forward.

Mohammad Osman shows his court order

Cameras, microphones, and officials from international agencies surrounded the new arrivals, none of whom looked particularly pleased to be back.

One man used his jacket as a shield to avoid publicity. Others though were keen to tell their story.

They spoke of the thousands of dollars it had cost to get too Britain.

They'd borrowed money or sold their homes and businesses to do so.

Now back in Afghanistan they were worse off than before.

Many said it was for economic reasons that they'd originally left.

Security was also a factor, and it remained a concern, despite assurances from British officials.

The 21 Afghans, all men, were the first group to be forcibly returned from Britain under a tripartite agreement between the British and Afghan governments, as well as the UN refugee agency, UNHCR.

UNHCR officials were at Kabul airport to monitor the refugees return, though they stressed they had no part in it.

Some of the returnees had been in Britain for a while.

Jagneeth Singh, who lived there for two years, said he'd learnt the day he was deported that his application for asylum had been refused.

"When I went to report to the authorities as usual, they took me to another room and interviewed me.

"A few hours later they told me I had a flight at 10 o'clock that night to leave the UK."

Another man said he'd been detained some days before.

He described how he and others were escorted, handcuffed, to a special plane charted for their deportation.

Once on board, the deportees said they were not physically restrained, but numerous security and immigration officials travelled with them.

Minister's appeal

As the plane touched down at Kabul, there seemed to be no families waiting to greet the returnees.

AFGHAN ASYLUM SEEKERS IN UK No Afghan refugee forced to return since 1995 More than 7,000 claimed asylum in 2002 Voluntary return scheme, offering �2,500 grant, meant to attract 1,000 The scheme was taken up by only 39 people Exceptional leave to remain scrapped EU repatriates Afghan refugees Cash offer for returning refugees

Two said they were from the northern town of Mazar -e-Sharif.

Jagneeth said he'd not seen his immediate family for two years.

"We all left Afghanistan together." he said "and got separated on the way to the UK.

"I don't know what to do. I have to find my other relatives and find somewhere to live."

The bus took the group from the airport to the Ministry of Repatriation for registration.

The Minister thanked Britain for its assistance, but he appealed for Afghans to be allowed to remain in Europe a while longer, until there were more employment opportunities and reconstruction progress here.

The human rights group Amnesty International has condemned the deportations, saying that conditions in Afghanistan were not conducive to voluntary returns, let alone forced ones.