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

Director General Lieutenant Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said 26 hostages were killed by the terrorists before the start of the army operation.

The BLA is one of the largest militant outfits demanding independence for Balochistan. It is designated as a terrorist group by Pakistan as well as the US.

The Balochistan Liberation Army claims it killed 6 security forces and seized a Pakistani passenger train carrying about 500 people in a remote, mountainous region.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claims responsibility for executing 214 hostages in Balochistan, citing Pakistan`s refusal to negotiate. The operation, dubbed `Darra-e-Bolan`, is ongoing.

Pakistan army revealed that 18 out of 26 hostages killed in a Balochistan train ambush were army personnel. The Balochistan Liberation Army staged a dramatic siege, prompting a military intervention that rescued over 300 passengers and eliminated 33 terrorists.

Pakistan's military spokesman said on Friday the death toll in a train hijacking in the country's southwestern mountains had risen to 31 and he repeated accusations that neighbouring India and Afghanistan backed the militants who carried it out.

The BLA said they gave the Pakistan Army 48 hours to exchange prisoners of war, but since they did not heed their warning, they killed the hostages