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

The separatist Baloch Liberation Army, which claimed responsibility for Tuesday's attack, released a statement saying its fighters had escaped with 214 hostages and since executed all of them, without giving any evidence to back that up.

Pakistan said Friday that the death toll from a train hijacking in the southwestern region climbed to 30 as it accused India and Afghanistan of supporting militants responsible for the attack.