QUETTA, May 14 The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has said it is scaling down its operations in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan because it has been receiving threats.

Mr Adrian Zimmermann, the Head of ICRC's Quetta sub-delegation, told newsmen on Friday that in view of the threats, the ICRC had reduced its operations in Balochistan for the time being and staff had been asked to stay indoors until the grim law and order situation improved in the province.

However, he dispelled the impression that ICRC had completely shut down its offices in Quetta and suspended all operations in the province.

“We have received threats, but our office in Quetta is open and working,” he said in reply to a question.

About the nature of the threats, he said he could not disclose them as authorities concerned were investigating the matter.

He said the ICRC's Quetta sub-delegation had shifted its foreign staff to safer places, adding that security had been beefed up at ICRC offices.

“We have informed authorities concerned about the situation,” the ICRC official said.

Informed sources said that an unidentified caller had hurled threats on

Tuesday by telephone, asking the ICRC to close its offices in the province or face consequences.

Sitara Jabeen, a spokesman for the ICRC, said in a statement that ICRC would continue its humanitarian operations in Quetta, adding that as everywhere in the world, the ICRC regularly adapted its security measures according to evolving situation on the ground. In some cases, the spokesman said, additional security measures were implemented and said that in Quetta the ICRC would operate with a reduced staff.

The statement said that while performing its life-saving humanitarian work, the ICRC always carefully balanced safety and security of its staff against needs of victims.

“By adapting its security measures to the situation at hand, the ICRC is not only safeguarding its staff, but also its beneficiaries who approach it for assistance,” the statement said.

The ICRC staff in Quetta have been assisting victims of man-made and natural disasters in Balochistan since the organisation resumed its operations in 2004.

In Balochistan, the ICRC orthopaedic and medical programmes and its work to restore family links would continue, the statement said, adding that the ICRC was currently developing a range of other assistance programmes meant to benefit affected population in the province.

Meanwhile, Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani has said that foreign and hidden hands are involved in giving threats to international aid organisations in the province.

“Other UN agencies have also been given threats. It is not only the International Committee of the Red Cross,” Mr Raisani told Dawn.

He said that it was very unfortunate that some girl schools had also received threats.

The chief minister said that such threats were in his knowledge and that he had already asked quarters concerned to take all steps to ensure protection to relief agencies operating in the province.