The train hijacking in south-western Pakistan represents a major escalation in the region’s long-running insurgency.

The death toll from a militant hijacking of a train in Pakistan's southwestern mountains has risen to 31 soldiers, staff and civilians, the military said on Friday as it accused India and Afghanistan of backing the insurgents.

Pakistan has long accused India and Afghanistan of providing money, weapons, and training to the insurgents operating in Balochistan.

Pakistan train hijack HIGHLIGHTS Militants hijacked the Jaffar Express train in Balochistan on Tuesday, taking several passengers hostage. The train, traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, was stopped near Tunnel No.

Train hijackers in Pakistan’s Balochistan province killed a total of 31 security personnel and civilians before they were neutralised, according to Pakistan Army

Hostages freed after a day-long ordeal following an attack by militants on a train in Pakistan's Balochistan province described crouching on the floor for hours before their release, as the bodies of 25 people killed arrived in Quetta.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Balochistan province on Thursday, as dozens of people rescued from a train hijacked by separatist militants arrived in Quetta after security forces killed 33 attackers to end a day-long standoff.

The outlawed Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack that began Tuesday and ended Wednesday when troops killed all 33 insurgents.