Baloch separatists who hijacked a Pakistani passenger train claimed to have executed all 214 military hostages after their deadline to exchange them for Baloch political prisoners expired. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) accused the Pakistani government of ignoring their ultimatum,

Baloch rebels claiming to have killed 214 hostages on a hijacked train in Pakistan. However, Pakistani forces responded with an operation that resulted in the rescue of 354 passengers.

The hijacking of the Jaffar Express signals that the conflict in Balochistan is reaching a dangerous new phase.

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.