The much delayed India-Pakistan-Iran (IPI) gas pipeline is back in the news, but without one "I" — India.
Iran and Pakistan marked the start of Pakistani construction last month when the presidents of the two countries came together for the groundbreaking ceremony. The two are hoping that the pipeline will be complete in time to start delivery of 21.5 million cubic meters of gas per day to Pakistan by December 2014.
There was much political symbolism involved in this move by Islamabad and Tehran as both nations are trying to snub the United States, which has been against this pipeline and has been trying to isolate Iran for its nuclear program.