Some hostages crouched on the floor for as long as 27 hours, remaining motionless, while some could only gasp in shock as armed rebels entered the train and began executing passengers.

Pakistani security forces stormed a train on Wednesday that had been hijacked by separatist militants, killing all 33 attackers and ending a day-long standoff involving hundreds of hostages, the military said.

Baloch separatist militants blew up a railway track and launched rockets at the Jaffar Express, which was carrying over 400 passengers.