Pledging to strengthen strained relations between the two countries, U. S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Pakistan on Sunday.

The New York Times has reported that in meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Clinton stressed the importance of Pakistan's support in defeating the Taliban in the 9-year-old Afghanistan war.

The United States, which calls on the Pakistani military to fight harder against Taliban militants in tribal regions on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, faces widespread anti-American sentiment among Pakistanis.

According to the official reports, however, relations between the two governments have improved since Clinton's last visit in October when she faced hostile audiences and suggested Pakistani officials knew the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden and a deputy.

Richard Holbrooke, the special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, said, "We needed to change the core of the relationship with Pakistan. The evolution of the strategic dialogue, and the fact that we are delivering, is producing a change in Pakistani attitudes."

Opinion polls indicate widespread doubts among Pakistanis about long-term U. S. intentions, Dawn has reported. The Pakistan-based news network has reported that many cite being abandoned after the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan.

U. S. officials have also urged Pakistan to do more to battle home-grown militants, among them, the suspect who pleaded guilty in the failed Times Square car bombing.

Holbrooke adviser Vali Nasr told Dawn, "When this administration came in there was a huge trust gap between Pakistan and the U. S. Pakistanis are beginning to develop much more knowledge about what our intentions are and with that comes trust." (With Inputs from Agencies)