A Pakistani resident moves his belongings from the rubble of collapsed houses in the quake-hit village of Gandao around 20 kilometers from Shangla in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province on Tuesday. Rescuers were searching for survivors after a massive quake hit Pakistan and Afghanistan, killing more than 350 people. Photo: AFP

The Taliban urged aid agencies on Tuesday to move forward with the delivery of emergency relief supplies after a major earthquake hit remote mountainous regions of northern Afghanistan and Pakistan, killing at least 300 people.

Relief groups' efforts to assess the damage have been hindered by an unstable security situation that has left many of the affected areas unsafe for international aid workers and government troops.

The Taliban indicated they would not stand in the way of aid efforts. "The Islamic Emirate calls on our good-willed countrymen and charitable organizations to not hold back in providing shelter, food and medical supplies to the victims," the group said in a message of condolence to quake victims.

"And it similarly orders its mujahideen in the affected areas to lend their complete help," the message continued.

Authorities confirmed 228 deaths in Pakistan, while in Afghanistan the death toll had climbed to more than 80. At least 4,000 houses and compounds were destroyed or damaged, Afghan Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah said.

The toll could climb as roads and communications links to isolated villages are restored. The plight of the thousands left homeless is becoming more serious as a harsh winter sets in across the rugged Hindu Kush Mountains where the earthquake struck.

"We have insufficient food and other aid," said Abdul Habib Sayed Khil, chief of police in Kunar, one of the worst-hit provinces, where 42 people were confirmed dead. "It has been raining for four days and the weather is very cold."

In Kabul, the Afghan capital, NATO officials said they werTaliban says it won't impede aide helping Afghan security forces plan relief operations.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said at a daily news briefing on Tuesday that China will offer disaster relief to quake-hit Afghanistan and Pakistan based on their needs, while China's Red Cross Society will provide emergency assistance to the two countries in the form of cash.

In Pakistan, the country's  military was heavily involved in relief efforts in mountainous areas of the north.

Monday's initial quake of magnitude 7.5 was followed by seven aftershocks of a range of magnitudes as high as 4.8, the US Geological Survey said.