Pakistan rejects 'ISI' role in Dhaka terror attack

"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.

"In this context, he drew attention to the statement by the Adviser to the Prime Minster of Bangladesh, Prof. Gowher Rizvi, refuting the Indian media story attributed to him regarding Pakistan's involvement as "utter nonsense" and a proof of the Indian media's malicious intent. Mr Rizvi said he never issued any statement or spoke to any TV channel on this issue," it said.

"Prof. 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. He also advised the Pakistan's High Commissioner to convey this clarification to the Government of Pakistan, to avoid any misunderstanding between the two countries," read the statement.

"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 sympathized with the families of the victims. 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," the statement said.

Days after a deadly militant attack at a cafe in Bangladesh capital Dhaka left 20 hostages dead, a top official of the country claimed that Pakistan's powerful ISI or military spy agency might be involved in the crime.

Hossain Toufique Imam, the political advisor to Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh told media that the manner in which the hostages, which included 19-year-old Indian student Tarishi Jain, were killed with machetes suggests the role of a local terrorist group, the banned Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen.

"Pakstan's ISI and Jamaat connection is well known...they want to derail the current government," HT Imam told NDTV, adding "all victims were hacked to death like Jamaat and local terror groups do".

The people were kept hostage for nearly 10 hours in Dhaka's upscale restaurant Gulshan. The stand-off between Army and terrorists came to a end on Saturday morning.

The operation left six terrorists killed as well.

Photo Caption: Image of the five of the terrorists who carried out the massacre in a Dhaka cafe