Islamabad: The strongest earthquake in 10 years rocked Pakistan on Monday leaving over 130 people dead and hundreds injured and causing widespread damage, stretching from the areas near Afghanistan to Punjab and Kashmir regions bordering India.

The 7.5 intensity quake with its epicentre in Afghanistan's Hindu Kush mountains jolted most northern parts of Pakistan including major cities like Peshawar, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Quetta and Multan at 2.09 p.m., officials said. 

Monday's was the most serious quake since the October 8, 2005 temblor measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale devastated Kashmir and Northern Areas, leaving more than 80,000 dead.

The Pakistan Army began rescue operations within hours.

Pakistani relatives move a person injured in the earthquake to a hospital in Peshawar. Pic/AFP