Security forces held off from full-out battles as militants wearing suicide vests loaded with explosives barricaded themselves inside the train with hostages in Balochistan

Pakistan’s prime minister has commended the country’s armed forces for successfully rescuing 339 passengers after a deadly train hijacking by insurgents in the southwest

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

Security sources said Wednesday a Pakistani military operation rescued 190 passengers and killed 30 terrorists, a day after an attack on a train in Pakistan’s restive southwestern Balochistan province.

Insurgents who attacked a passenger train carrying 440 passengers in restive southwestern Pakistan killed 21 hostages before

Security officials said more than 300 hostages were rescued, and the operation continued, but gave no details about the hostages killed.

Terrorists in explosive vests have reportedly threatened Pakistan train passengers' lives if officials refuse to release imprisoned militants.

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 scope of the attack underscored the struggles Pakistan faces in efforts to reign in militant groups as attacks across the country surged in recent years. Accusing India and neighboring Afghanistan has been Pakistan's go-to strategy in the past.