A group of Indian American and Pakistani American doctors and nurses are pitching in to help victims in quake-hit Pakistan.

The group left on Friday to help people injured in last week's devastating earthquake.

"I am willing to go; it is for a humanitarian cause," said Dr Ram Trehan, a doctor at the Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, who is of Indian origin.

• Tremors across Borders

"I have worked as a doctor in the Indian Army and have treated earthquake victims before and my expertise could be really useful," he said.

Observing that India and Pakistan have much in common and share their histories, he said, "We speak the same language, and if you take the politicians aside, I don't know what we fight about."

Taking note of the initiative by the doctors, the Washington Post said 'man-made boundaries and the long-standing animosity between the two countries are trivial for this group of 18 medical professionals'.

Although there are only two Indian Americans with this team, says the paper, there are already some others pledging their support and another group is preparing to leave soon.