New Delhi: A 30-hour operation to rescue passengers from a hijacked train in Pakistan's Balochistan province has ended with 21 civilians and four security troops killed.

The Pakistan Army confirmed that all 33 rebels, including suicide bombers, were killed in the operation.

The Jaffar Express, carrying 440 passengers, was derailed and hijacked by members of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) near Quetta on Tuesday. The rebels, who were using passengers as human shields, had threatened to execute hostages unless their demands were met.

According to the Army, the rescue operation was conducted with extreme precision and caution to avoid harming passengers. Snipers first killed the suicide bombers, and then each train compartment was cleared.

A video released by the BLA showed its members bombing the railway track and storming the train.

Passengers who were freed described walking for hours through mountainous terrain to reach safety.

The Pakistan Army has blamed terrorist ring leaders operating from Afghanistan for orchestrating the attack. The government has called on the Interim Afghan Government to prevent the use of its soil for terrorist activities against Pakistan.