WASHINGTON: The United States has once again stressed the need for Pakistan to conclude a parliamentary review of bilateral ties, publicly expressing its exasperation over the delay in finalising the process.

"We.. await the conclusion of that process so that we can have a consultation on the results with the Pakistani government," State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said when asked if the US knew when the Pakistanis were going to conclude the review.

Pakistan's Ambassador to the US Sherry Rehman, who left Washington on Tuesday to brief Pakistani officials and lawmakers on US views on the issue, is believed to have assured the Americans that this would be the first item on the parliament's agenda after the Senate elections.

"Both sides understand that parliamentary recommendations will set the parameters for rebuilding the ties and both wait for those recommendations before making any commitment," Ms Rehman told Dawn before her departure.

The Pakistani government plans to hold a joint parliamentary session for endorsing the recommendations soon after the Senate elections.

A parliamentary committee, tasked with drafting the new strategy, is believed to have completed its recommendations.

The recommendations will now be presented before a joint parliamentary session for endorsement and will then be sent to the Americans.

Events in Pakistan pushed back efforts to finalise the recommendations by at least a month as Islamabad seemed reluctant to make any major move before the Senate elections.

"Our sense from our contacts with the Pakistan government is that they are still trying to work through the issues, and we will be patient as they work through these things," said Ms Nuland.

Pakistan launched a parliamentary review of its relations with the United States after the Nov 26 Nato attack on military posts that killed 24 Pakistani personnel.

The delay, however, has had a negative impact in Washington where US officials and lawmakers are both waiting eagerly to hear from Pakistan about its plans to rebuild ties with the United States.

They have expressed their indignation in almost every meeting Pakistani officials and diplomats have had with them since the Nov 26 air strikes.

By last week, they seemed so upset that they were reluctant to accept Pakistan's request for a meeting between Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the sidelines of a London conference, which begins on Thursday.

Ms Rehman, who would assist the foreign minister at this meeting, had to work "very hard" to convince the Americans that the meeting would be useful for building a future relationship.

The Americans, however, seem more interested in the parliamentary recommendations and that's why diplomatic observers in Washington do not expect a major breakthrough in London.

Meanwhile, Pakistan is expected to request Secretary Clinton to reconsider the use of drones for targeting militants in Fata because the strikes also kill a large number of innocent civilians.

While the Americans may not agree to discontinue the drone attacks, the two sides may agree on giving Pakistan a greater say in operational matters.

The Americans also have shown interest in sending a military officer and a civilian official, probably Ambassador Marc Grossman, with reconciliatory messages to Islamabad once both sides agree on an expected US apology.

Mr Grossman, who postponed a visit to Islamabad last month on Pakistan's request, is willing to make the visit this month but the delay in finalising the recommendations is also delaying his trip.

"We fear that all these delays and postponements could do a damage that would be difficult to repair," said a Pakistani diplomat who has accompanied Ms Rehman on more than two dozen visits she has made to Capitol Hill since coming to Washington.

"The lawmakers are really upset. And further delays could really harm us," said the diplomat, adding that "on each visit, we felt their positions had hardened a little more".

While the London meeting will allow both sides to sound each other on major issues, no major decision is expected in London as both sides are waiting for parliamentary recommendations.