WASHINGTON - The withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan and the 2014 deadline for security transition to Afghans would dominate a meeting between Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khan, officials said on Monday.

The top diplomats would meet in Washington later this week during her four-day visit, beginning from September 18. Khar will also meet National Security Advisor Tom Donilon and US Trade representative Ron Kirk.
Officials familiar with her visit schedule said the situation in Afghanistan would top the agenda for discussions. While the US is expected to push for stronger action against the Haqqani network, Khar will reiterate Pakistan's contribution to the war on terrorism.

The Pakistani minister, who may renew her call for an end to drone strikes in the tribal region, will also visit the Capitol Hill for meetings with top American lawmakers, including Senator John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

On the eve of Khar's arrival, Congressman Ted Poe introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives to strip Pakistan of the major non-NATO ally status.

"It's time to break with Pakistan, but at the very least, we should stop providing them the eligibility to obtain our own sophisticated weaponry in an expedited process. Too many of our own men and women have died because of Islamabad's treachery," Texas Congressman Ted Poe said.

Granted to Pakistan in 2004 by then president George Bush, MNNA status allows a country priority delivery of defense material, an expedited arms sale process and a US loan guarantee program which backs up credit issued by private banks to finance arms exports.

From Washington, Khar will travel to New York, where she will join the President Asif Ali Zardari in attending the UN General Assembly. (Pajhwok)