A car bomb ripped through a crowded market in northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar today killingu00a0over 80 people and wounding over 200, hours after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Islamabad on her maiden official visit.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan, Taliban fighters stormed a UNu00a0guesthouse in Kabulu00a0leaving 12 dead and several injured. Rockets were separately fired at Kabul's only luxury hotel but no one died.

Blast cripples Peshawar marketplace
The powerful explosion occurred in the congested Peepal Mandi area of Peshawar shortly after 1 pm and the sound was so loud it was heard across the city, witnesses said.

The explosion took place shortly after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton began a three-day trip to the country.