Pak to fast-track IP gas pipeline project despite U.S. objections

Pakistan has said it is planning to fast track the long delayed Iran-Pakistan (IP) pipeline project to import natural gas from the neighboring nation, which has been opposed by the United States.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Pakistani and the Iranian oil officials agreed to formulate a road map to address the challenges and to have effective coordination and cooperation on the project during a meeting in Tehran, Dawn News reports.

According to the report, the pipeline will link Iranian gas fields to Pakistan by the end of 2014.

However, the project has been delayed due to many reasons.

The US, meanwhile, opposes the IP pipeline as it supports an alternative pipeline proposal that would run from the gas fields of Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.

If Pakistan goes ahead with the pipeline, it could trigger U.S. and international sanctions over Iran's nuclear programme, the report added.