A group of militants seized a Peshawar-bound train, igniting a 36-hour hostage crisis, but this attack is part of a decades-long insurgency rooted in the Baloch separatist groups' violent struggle for an independent state.

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.

The Baloch Liberation Army's hijacking of the Jaffar Express could heighten tensions between China and Pakistan, as Beijing worries about its investments in Balochistan. Despite Pakistan's security measures,

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the execution of 214 hostages after Pakistan refused to negotiate a prisoner exchange. The mass execution included only Pakistan security personnel,

The Baloch rebels, who hijacked Jaffar Express train in Pakistan, claimed to have killed all the 214 hostages as their deadline for a deal to swap them with Baloch political prisoners ended on Friday.

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