ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Rival nations put aside their differences -- at least for the moment -- to help the tens of thousands of people left homeless after last weekend's 7.6 magnitude earthquake devastated south Asia.India, which has fought three wars with Pakistan since 1947, sent a plane loaded with humanitarian supplies on Friday to Lahore. It was the second shipment to its nuclear rival. And when an Iranian plane arrived at Chakalala air base in Pakistan, it sought help with unloading the cargo from U.S. military personnel already on site."I said, 'Certainly, no question about it,' " said Col. Richard Walberg of the U.S. Air Force. "I sent my team over behind the airplane with our loaders, and they brought some equipment off." (Watch efforts to get aid to hard-hit areas -- 2:40)Walberg said he was proud to do it, and wouldn't hesitate to do it again."When I put this uniform on, the American taxpayer pays my salary," he said. "And I have two choices: I can go to war in this uniform, and I'm very good at that, or I can help people, and I'm very good at that."So, let's take option two every time."The quake, centered in Pakistan's mountainous Himalayan region, killed at least 23,000, according to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. Another 1,300 deaths have been reported in India.Musharraf said almost 2.5 million people are homeless as a result of the quake. (Watch Musharraf faces tough test after quake -- 2:19)The Pakistan government on Friday announced it had officially called off rescue operations, The Associated Press reported."From now the search and recovery operation is being launched as there is a very slim chance of finding any survivors in the rubble" six days after the quake, Maj. Farooq Nasir told AP.Relief groups were working at a fever pitch across the region, with helicopters and other equipment trying to rush supplies to the hardest-hit areas. Roads to many areas were clogged with traffic, slowing ground efforts to reach the most vulnerable.At one point late Friday, a magnitude 5.0 aftershock sent quake-weary people fleeing into the streets. No major damage was reported.Pakistani Army Maj. Gen. Javed Aslam said the worst damage was spread over a 125 mile by 190 mile area and required a well-coordinated relief effort. He said about 70 helicopters were being used to get supplies to the region."The size of the operations is massive," he said.Rear Adm. Michael Lefever, the head of operations for the U.S. Navy, said, "It's great to show our allies that they have given us wonderful support, and we are supporting them in their operations to save lives."In Washington, President Bush visited the Pakistani Embassy as a show of support, signing a condolence book while there."We want to help in any way we can," he said. "There's been a lot of loss of life, and Americans pray for those families who have lost a loved one."He added, "Not only will we offer our prayers, but we'll offer our help -- to help the people, to help the government, to help this great nation get back on its feet."The Cabinet has said it will set up a tent village for thousands of Pakistanis left homeless by the quake. Musharraf said reaching the displaced people is the nation's priority.It was not clear where the tent village will be constructed.The disaster already has cost Pakistan billions of dollars, the Cabinet said, and international donors have given $360 million to help offset that cost.Some 40,000 Pakistani troops have been moved into the area "to make sure the distribution mechanism (for relief items) improves, and it is improving by the day," according to Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.Meanwhile, aid workers told CNN on Friday that looting and heavy fighting, including gunfire and small explosions, erupted overnight in Muzaffarabad, a devastated Himalayan city. People from outlying areas, who had come to the city seeking relief items, were blamed for the violence.The United Nations' emergency relief coordinator, Jan Egeland, toured the devastated area Thursday and told CNN's Matthew Chance that immediate resources -- mainly helicopters and tents -- are needed to keep people alive."People are dying as we speak because we're not there in all of these villages where there are wounded people," Egeland said.In his aerial tour, he said, he saw "town after town destroyed.""I fear we're losing this cruel race against time to reach those outlying villages," he said.In Indian-controlled Kashmir, a delivery of clothing set off a scramble among people left with nothing. The Indian army, already deployed on the front lines in Kashmir, has taken the lead in ensuring aid gets into the right hands.Officials say weather-resistant tents are needed most in the region, which gets 15 feet of snow every winter."The clothes, the rations, the stores -- which you are seeing -- is most welcome," said Indian Army Lt. Col. Anupam Bhagi. "But that's not exactly what is required now. This can be used for the needs of the destitute but not for those who've lost the roof on top of their heads."CNN Correspondents Becky Anderson, Satinder Bindra and Ram Ramgopal contributed to this report. Copyright 2005 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.