In the clearance operation that lasted more than 30 hours, the Pakistan military said it killed 33 BLA terrorists. Chaudhry, director general of military public relations, said 354 passengers were freed, 37 of whom were injured. Officials also revised the tally of passengers on the train downward to 425 from 440.

"Terrorists were in direct communications with Afghanistan-based planners throughout the incident," he said. The Foreign Office statement came after the army also officially confirmed the Afghan link to the brazen train hijacking.