Clinton arrives in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in the Pakistani capital even as the terrorism-ravaged nation convulsed under another attack in Peshawar.

Clinton's mission is to dent the growing Pakistani resentment of the United States and assure her hosts, as she told reporters en route to Islamabad, her government wants to broaden its engagement with Pakistan beyond what has been "primarily a security-anti-terrorist agenda," CNN reported.

Clinton arrives at a time when Pakistan is facing a wave of deadly militant attacks as its military fights a major offensive against the Taliban, al-Qaida and other terror groups holed up in the tribal areas of South Waziristan.

The attacks have killed nearly 200 people in the past few days, with the latest hitting Peshawar on the same day as Clinton's arrival in Islamabad, less than 100 miles away. Authorities in Peshawar, capital of the North-West Frontier province, said a huge blast tore through the crowded Meena Bazar, killing and wounding dozens.

"It is unfortunate that there are those who question our motives, who perhaps are skeptical that we are going to commit to a long-term relationship, and I want to try to clear the air up on that while I am in the country," Clinton told reporters, CNN said.

One of her tasks would be to remove any Pakistani perception the recently enacted five-year, $7.5 billion U.S. civilian aid is designed to interfere in Pakistan's internal affairs.

The secretary also said she will discuss nuclear proliferation as Pakistan is a nuclear-powered country.