Victims Of Train Hijacking Death In Pakistan Increase To 31 People, Military Accuses India Of Supporting Separatists

JAKARTA - Pakistan's military spokesman said the death toll in train hijackings in the country's southwestern mountains had risen to 31 people.

Pakista repeated accusations of neighboring India and Afghanistan supporting militants hijacking trains.

The Bloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the hijacking of the Jaffar Express on Tuesday.

During the attack, they blew up railroad tracks and took passengers hostage in a one-day deadlock with security forces on a remote mountainous path in the province of Blochistan.

"We have evidence that all ties to terrorism in Pakistan can be traced back to Afghanistan," said Army spokesman Major General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry.

"India is the main supporter of the rebels," Chaudhry said.

Islamabad has long accused New Delhi and Kabul of providing money, resources, weapons, and training grounds for rebels in the province of Blochistan, which borders Afghanistan and Iran.

The two countries denied the allegations, saying the uprising was an internal problem in Islamabad.

Chaudhry said the final number of victims included 18 soldiers, three rail employees, and five civilians among passengers held hostage by rebels for more than 24 hours.

Five other soldiers were killed in a rescue operation that killed 33 rebels.

A total of 354 hostages were rescued, the general said.

The rebels said they were still holding hostage, but Chaudhry said there was no evidence to suggest this and the military said the siege was over.

BLA is the largest and strongest ethnic Bloch rebel group to have struggled for decades to win independence for the mineral-rich province, home to major Chinese-led projects such as ports and gold and copper mines.