Plans are reportedly being drawn up for the RAF to fly hundreds of Afghan asylum seekers back home.

The move aims to counter criticism that not enough is being done to stop illegal immigrants entering Britain.

The cabinet committee handling the asylum issue is planning a tough new approach to repatriate asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Turkey and Sri Lanka, it is being claimed.

It is hoped such strong tactics would demonstrate to "economic migrants" from these countries they will be sent back if they enter the UK, according to the Independent on Sunday.

Home Office officials are already in Afghanistan making preparations for more people to be returned, the paper says.

They will be flown back once a stable government has been established, it is suggested.

The cabinet committee is also considering ways of supporting the Afghan asylum seekers when they return to their own country.

Sangatte closure

More than 700 Afghans a month are seeking asylum in Britain - the highest of any nation - even though the war has been over for months.

Most are young men, trying to enter illegally through the Channel Tunnel, from the Sangatte refugee camp.

Britain and France are negotiating the closure of the Sangatte camp, but it will be delayed for EU-wide asylum measures to be adopted at next month's EU summit.

A total of 2,280 applications for asylum in the last quarter of 2001, were made by Afghans, followed by Iraq (1,835) and Sri Lanka (1,425), according to the paper.

Afghans who have been settled in Britain for years after fleeing the Taleban regime before it was defeated, will not be forced to leave, but many others will have their cases speeded up.

Home Secretary David Blunkett is also due to announce this week plans to give work permits to 120,000 legitimate immigrants a year.