Pakistan said on Thursday it had decided to initiate work on an 80-kilometer-long segment of the Pakistan-Iran pipeline, with “no room for any objections” from a third party like the United States since the project was being constructed within Pakistani territory.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson, said at a weekly briefing on Thursday: “The cabinet of Pakistan decided, a few days ago, to start work on 80 kilometers of Pakistan-Iran pipeline, and this is the beginning of construction of the pipeline and it is in conformity with our commitment to the Iran-Pakistan pipeline.”
She added: “Since this pipeline is being constructed inside Pakistani territory, we do not believe there is room for any objections by any third party at this stage.”
On February 23, Pakistan approved construction of part of the pipeline amid fears of a potential $18 billion penalty for failing to complete the project on time.