Pakistan on Monday rejected all reports of its involvement in the terror attack at a restaurant in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Friday night. Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said that such allegations were baseless, irresponsible and provocative, reported The Hindu. The terror strike left 22 people dead, including a 19-year-old Indian girl.
“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,” said Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesman, Nafees Zakaria. However, Bangladesh Information and Broadcasting Minister Hassanul Haq Inu had also blamed Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence for having connections to those behind the attack.
The Islamic State had claimed responsibility for the attack immediately after the hostage crisis. However, Bangladesh blamed local terrorists from the Jamaeytul Mujahdeen Bangladesh for the attack. The country's Home Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Sunday said the IS had no base in Bangladesh.
United States Secretary of State John Kerry called on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the country has offered support from its law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to inquire into the terror attack.
Gunmen stormed into Dhaka’s O’kitchen restaurant and took hostages late on Friday night. Among the 20 killed were nine Italians, seven Japanese, two Bangladeshis, an American and an Indian. Two police officers were killed outside the restaurant during the 11-hour siege. Of the militants, six were killed and one was captured.
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