Islamabad  - A strong earthquake rattled northern Pakistan and Afghanistan early Friday.

With a magnitude of 6.2 to 6.4 on the Richter scale, the epicenter was in the high-altitude Hindu Kush at a depth of about 180 kilometres below ground, Pakistan authorities said.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or serious damage. Word of any damage in remote, mountainous parts of both countries could be slow to reach the outside world.

Pakistani broadcaster GEO TV reported that frightened people were seen running into the streets of major cities including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Lahore.

Buildings shoot during the earthquake in Kabul, Arabic broadcaster al-Jazeera reported from the Afghan capital. (dpa)