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Red Cross suspends Pakistan work after killing
ICRC says it has put on hold activities run from Karachi, Peshawar. Reviewing operations after killing of Khalil Dale.
ICRC says it has put on hold activities run from Karachi, Peshawar. Reviewing operations after killing of Khalil Dale. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
ISLAMABAD: The Red Cross on Thursday suspended most of its aid projects in Pakistan and recalled all of its foreign staff to the capital, following the brutal murder of a British worker.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it had put on hold activities run from Karachi and Peshawar, while it reviewed its operations after the killing of Khalil Dale.
The move suspends activities at all facilities run by ICRC apart from a physical rehabilitation centre in Kashmir.
“The recent attack against the ICRC compels us to completely reassess the balance between the humanitarian impact of our activities and the risks faced by our staff,” said Jacques de Maio, ICRC’s head of operations for South Asia.
The 60-year-old Dale’s mutilated body was found outside Quetta on April 29, four months after he was abducted.
ICRC activities in Quetta were frozen in the aftermath of Dale’s death, the aid group said.
“We are currently analysing the situation and the environment with a view to setting out a clear and sustainable way forward,” said Paul Castella, head of the ICRC delegation in Pakistan.
“In the coming weeks, the ICRC will announce a decision on its future presence and set-up in Pakistan.”
Some of the expatriate staff recalled to Islamabad will work on the review process, while the majority of local staff in Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar will go on paid leave, ICRC said.
Reader Comments (41)
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They are here to help us.. and look how they’re rewarded. :(
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RIP
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Shame on all of those who call themselves humans and kill people in the name of God who are providing care for their families. Relief workers who are providing basic necessities and relief work risk their lives to provide us with better health care, medicines(original and not expired), sanitation and list goes on. I breaks my heart when I read what happened with Khalil Dale. Allah made angels with characteristics such as intellect and beasts with sensuality but humans with both of them. When his sensuality overcomes his intellect he is worse than beast.
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It was a shamful insident,it is against Islam and humanity,ICRC shuld not suspend their activities in pakistan becaus it will be the secsuss of evil.
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sad
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One more step toward isolation of Pakistan——are we so blind or so stupid to understand our own role in this situation. Pity ourselves for being surrounded by our own homegrown enemies and pity our this collective indiferrence to this. We must wake up and for God sake do something to fight the indigenous dangers to our existence. We must unite and fight this menace of terrorism attacking our own interests.
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Nice work by terrorists! Sad for the people who lost services of selfless workers
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I think all foreign agencies should pull out. Unfortunately, only the poor and infirm will suffer.
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shame on this country.
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Who needs infidel ‘Red Cross’ when we have holy ‘Green Crescent’! Where is the ‘Green Crescent’ BTW? Why are they not helping out the fellow pakistani muslim brothers?
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IT is a totaly justified decision by Red Cross and perhaps other agencies may follow. The sad unfortunate part is that the people who will suffer due to absence of these services had nothing to do with this.
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There was no choice to but to suspend operations. After repeated request to the Govt. for doing more in terms of security if that is not provided and over all if the security situation on the ground becomes dangerous what else can ICRC do?
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An international help rendering agency leaving the country is the last thing Pakistan needed which would further tarnish its image. The Red Cross workers should have been provided with foolproof security which would have saved the country some blushes.
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A national disgrace because our so called nation has descended into the abyss of darkness and evil…..truly tragic for each Pakistani. And than you to the ICRC for bearing such torturous working conditions for so long and we cannot thank them enough for what they have done for us.
So far, not one darned mullah or Islami party has condemned the brutal murder of Khalil Dale, May Allah grant him a heavenly abode. amen
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This is indeed a very sad news. The people who are suffering already are bound to suffer even more just because of a bunch of lunatics who respect no religion or humanity.
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Another black eye for Pakistan — IRC only pulls out under extreme circumstances often associated with out of control failed nations.
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unfortunate incident my prayers go out to his family members nd may his soul rest in peace
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This is really very Sad, but i think Pakistan being the 1st Islamic Nucler Power State is being tryed to destablized by the 3rd party. Specific organizations working in Pakistan are point out so they stop there work, organizations like ICRC, who are doing only for the sake of humanity and better futher of Pakistan and the Pakistani peoples.
This mind setup is of those who don’t want Pakistan to be better…Recommend
Its very sad & unfortunate, I pray for the departed soul.Recommend
@Tauqeer: “Pakistan being the 1st Islamic Nucler Power State is being tryed to destablized by the 3rd party”
For heavens sake, why do you bring Islam and nuclear state into this very sad situation?
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@Taqueer
Why does a country with the money to maintain such a massive nuclear arsenal charity in the first place?
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@Tauqeer:
Good attempt at stealing the victim title at the expense of the victim.
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@Tauqeer:
Sir please wake up and enough of these conspiracy theories there enough enemies within Pakistan it really doesn’t need any outsiders. I really like your country and its people saying that though its really time to wake up else abyss is the only other direction. I presume 64 years is proof enough.
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The government neither can stop the killings of the locals, nor the foreigners.
What is the meaning of the word ‘Government’?
All laws are only restricted in the books and are never written to get these implemented.
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offcourse in any context muslim or any pakistani cant b ever involve in such brutal activities!!!Recommend
Where are our leaders and religious leaders. No one came out with any condemnation message. pl. note we are heading to a total collapse.
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The symbol Cross is a bone of contention for our strategic assets. In fact we don’t deserve any charity program from any international organization. If there is no protection then no aid.
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One more step towards anarchy for the state. It’s shame that a country so rich in resources, geography and climate is being ruined in the name of religion. But this will be a great lesson for all other nations on the planet to completely separate the state from religion. Pakistan can not isolate these two and this alone will be the reason for the anarchy .
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Ex-Diplomat
Pakistan’s neighboring enemies will go to any extent to harm Pakistan. Killing Red Cross workers to malign Pakistan must be the easiest thing.
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i think all the terrorists are reading your comments and they wont be doing such stupid thing again :)Recommend
Fallout of drone strikes and war on terror.
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@Tauqeer: Wake up! The ‘third parties” are pakistani extremist groups that have been funded and supported for decades by the establishment!
Unless we stop being delusional and acknowledge that the fault is within our own country we will keep on sliding further into chaos!
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I see foreign hands in this. If you don’t believe me, ask you can ask Pakistan’s minister Mr.Malik
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As always the poor people suffer because of our inept and incompetent govt.
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Let the charity organization, the Red Cross leave pakistan, the other ‘charity’ organization lead by philanthropist, Hafeez Saeed of JuD will fill the void and help people of pakistan. After all, JUD is a charity organization, isnt it?
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@LionOfPunjab:
My friend the Red Cross movement is NOT a religious organisation, it comprises of the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies represented by nearly every country of the world and these people give their time and sometimes their lives as we have seen, for their fellow human being regardless of race, religion, gender or political beliefs.
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Pakistan is in the grip of terrorist thinking. The silence of religious parties on this brutal act is meaningful. There is no external threat but internal.
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I want to reply to Lion of Punjab:-
Please don’t compare Green Crescent with Red Cross. You should have the will like the kind Red Cross and its worker, staff possess. It very easy to say what you say…but come out on the field and risk your very life which is only one time….that’s the difference. Salute to Red Cross and to the very brave person who gave his life.Recommend
Let the Agencies Red Cross, USAID, UKAID, Unicef, leave Pakistan. Yeah these Agencies (“Charity Organizations”) are working hard but only for their own Countries for their own peoples, NOT for Pakistani peoples, its just for formality to get their “Goals” and “Targets” achieved. I agree that our Government buddies also helping them..
REMEMBER!!
They aren’t helping you, they are helping themselves.
Regards to Pakistani Brothers and Sisters.Recommend
@ To all who responded to my post, do you know what sarcasm is?
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Killing a 60 year old man who was just helping ordinary people is the most cowardly thing to do. They could have at least thought about his old age. Disgusting and extremely sad.
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