Following tighter security policies in Pakistan, authorities have escalated the detention of Afghan refugees in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
The crackdown has created widespread fear among the displaced community, with police targeting families regardless of their documentation status in recent operations.
Several released refugees report that police are demanding large sums of money in exchange for their freedom.
Victims describe these detentions as an organized extortion scheme targeting vulnerable migrants, turning the plight of refugees into a profitable business for local law enforcement.
This systematic harassment has inflicted severe psychological pressure on Afghan families living across the border.
The uncertainty and constant threat of arbitrary arrest have left many refugees facing a deepening mental health crisis, urging international monitors to intervene immediately.
