As peace returns to much of Afghanistan, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Kuala Lumpur said it is now offering voluntary repatriation as an option to Afghan refugees currently living in Malaysia.

UNHCR Protection Officer Shinji Kubo (photo) said out of the 350 refugees recognised by the agency in Malaysia, more than 30 persons came originally from Afghanistan.

"We are always trying to promote voluntary repatriation as a permanent solution (to refugee problems). Now, we are offering voluntary repatriation for people from Afghanistan," he said when contacted.

Earlier this year, the UNHCR resettled over 40 Afghan refugees sheltering in Malaysia to New Zealand. The resettled refugees had lived in Malaysia for up to five years since they entered the country.