QUETTA The International Committee of the Red Cross has restricted the movement of staff and cut back its activities in southwestern Pakistan after receiving threats, a spokesman said Friday.

The restrictions apply in Balochistan, Pakistans largest province that borders Afghanistan and Iran, and where violence linked to a separatist insurgency and sectarian killings has recently surged.

“We have curtailed the activities of our two offices (in provincial capital Quetta) after threats were received,” ICRC spokesman Amanullah told AFP.

“Foreign staff have not been relocated, but asked to restrict travel and local staff have been asked the same,” he added.

Amanullah said ICRC operations in Balochistan would continue on the ground with their partners, the local Red Crescent. He declined to detail the threats.

Police say sectarian and ethnic targeted killings in Balochistan have claimed at least 87 lives and injured 303 people so far this year.

John Solecki, who headed the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Quetta, was kidnapped at gunpoint in Balochistans capital Quetta in February 2009 by a local militant group. He was released after two months.

Soleckis driver was killed during the abduction.