Pakistan attacks Indian media, refutes reports of link to Dhaka terror attack

Refuting allegations of their involvement in the gruesome terror attack in a Dhaka cafe which claimed 22 lives, Pakistan on Monday targeted Indian media for carrying out provocative stories.

In a statement, the Pakistan Foreign Office said such reports are utterly baseless and unfounded.

"In response to the media queries regarding allegations of Pakistan's involvement in Dhaka's terrorist attack, the Spokesperson stressed that these are highly regrettable, irresponsible and provocative stories being carried in the Indian media. They are utterly baseless and unfounded. Pakistan strongly rejects such allegations," Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Drawing the attention to the remarks by the Adviser to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Gowher Rizvi, the statement said that Rizvi refuted the Indian media story attributed to him regarding Pakistan's involvement as "utter nonsense" and a proof of the Indian media's malicious intent.

"Rizvi said he never issued any statement or spoke to any TV channel on this issue. Rizvi contacted Pakistan's High Commissioner to Bangladesh to confirm that he has not issued any statement against Pakistan and that the Indian media reports are false," the statement said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement also said that Rizvi has advised the Pakistan's High Commissioner to convey this clarification to the Government of Pakistan, to avoid any misunderstanding between the two countries.

The statement read that Pakistan deeply appreciates Gowher's timely rebuttal to the Indian media's reports.

"Pakistan has strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Dhaka and expressed solidarity with the Government and the brotherly people of Bangladesh and offered condolences and sympathized with the families of the victims," the statement added.

In the end, the statement read that Islamabad itself being one of the biggest victims of terrorism condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

"Being itself one of the biggest victims of terrorism, Pakistan welcomes Gowher Rizvi's call for international cooperation to fight the menace of terrorism," the statement read.

Nine Italians, seven Japanese, one Indian, one Bangladeshi American and two Bangladeshis were killed in the terror attack at Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan on Friday night.

Besides 20 people, two senior police officers-Banani Police Station officer-in-charge Salauddin Ahmed Khan and Detective Branch Assistant Commissioner Robiul Islam were killed while trying to rescue the hostages.

The 12-hour-long hostage crisis at the cafe popular with foreigners ended after a two-hour long assault by armed forces' commandos killing six gunmen.

Though Islamic state has taken responsibility for the attack, the Bangladesh government clearly rejected the claims and said the attack did not have any link with any international terrorist organization and it was homegrown.

The Bangladesh authorities even blamed Pakistan's ISI for the attack.