Bangladesh refutes Indian media reports claiming Pakistan's links to Dhaka attack

Pakistan terms allegations ‘baseless, irresponsible and provocative’


Kamran Yousaf/news Desk July 04, 2016
Members of the Rapid Action Battalion are seen outside the Holey Artisan restaurant, where gunmen had taken hostages, in the upscale Gulshan area of Dhaka, Bangladesh, July 2, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS

ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh on Sunday refuted Indian media reports claiming it blamed Pakistan for the recent Dhaka cafe siege which killed at least 20 people.

Terming reports by Indian media as 'fake', Adviser to the Bangladesh Prime Minister on International Affairs Professor Gowher Rizvi assured Islamabad Dhaka did not blame Pakistan for the attack.

A letter to Islamabad on behalf of Rizvi in fact urged all countries, including Pakistan, to help Bangladesh in its fight against terror.

20 foreigners killed in Dhaka cafe siege

The Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad issued a statement which quoted Rizvi as saying, "The statement issued by Indian media was 'utter nonsense' and that he has never issued any statement or spoken to any TV channel regarding the issue."

"Professor Gowher Rizvi wanted me to convey this immediately to Islamabad so that there was no misunderstanding," the letter read.



On Sunday, NDTV claimed the deadly terror attack was likely enabled by Pakistan's premier spy agency ISI.

"Hossain Toufique Imam is the political adviser to Sheikh Hasina, the prime minister of Bangladesh. HT Imam told NDTV that the manner in which the hostages, which included a 19-year-old Indian student Tarishi Jain, were killed with machetes suggests the role of a local terrorist group, the banned Jamaatul Mujahideen," the report said.

Last week, armed militants had killed 20 civilians after taking them hostage in a Bangladesh cafe overnight and many of the victims were hacked to death, an army spokesperson said.

This Muslim victim refused to abandon his friends during Dhaka carnage

“We’ve recovered 20 bodies. Most them had been brutally hacked to death with sharp weapons,” Brigadier General Nayeem Ashfaq Chowdhury told reporters in Dhaka, without giving the nationality of the victims.

Thirteen survivors were also rescued at the end of the siege in an upmarket neighbourhood of the capital Dhaka, including three foreigners.

“Three of those who were rescued were foreigners, including one Japanese and two Sri Lankans,” said the spokesperson.

Pakistan terms allegations ‘baseless, irresponsible and provocative’

Meanwhile, Pakistan rejected on Monday allegations of involvement in the Dhaka terror episode as “baseless, irresponsible and provocative”.

In response to media queries regarding allegations of Pakistan’s involvement in the attack, FO spokesperson Nafees Zakaria 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.”

The spokesperson referred the media to the statement of adviser to Bangladeshi PM, refuting the Indian media story.

“Pakistan deeply appreciates Prof 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 sympathised with the families of the victims,” Zakaria said.

“Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Being itself one of the biggest victims of terrorism, Pakistan welcomes Prof Gowher Rizvi’s call for international cooperation to fight the menace of terrorism,” he added.

COMMENTS (34)

NDA | 7 years ago | Reply @swapnajeet: No one needs your debate. Live and let every one else live. In this era of global knowledge and enlightenment, every one has enough to say but better focus on peace and living side by side.
swapnajeet | 7 years ago | Reply India is the birth place of budhha,swami vivekanada.These pioneers had taught the world about the lessons of harmony,peace.we people believe in peace so even though we hear those hatred comments our vedic culture ,vedic teaching,upbringing debars us to do .not a single above mentioned commentators are high rank incumbent authority who has the knowledge about ongoing scuffle neither do i have the requisite information to debate on ongoing issues.these are propaganda of the policy ma.ker of both the countries.so my brothers please dont indulge in such hatred activities.lets there be peace between the citizens of both the countries.
VIEW MORE COMMENTS
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ