Pakistan is reconsidering its earlier policy of not seeking a US waiver for Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline. Petroleum Minister Musadik Malik recently said, “Pakistan will vigorously present its case and will try to seek exemption from US sanctions by presenting technical and political arguments.”

Previously the Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, in response to a question said, “It is a segment of the pipeline which is being built inside Pakistani territory. So, we do not believe that at this point there is room for any discussion or waiver from a third party.”

Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project has been in the works for more than a decade now. While Iran has completed the construction of 900 kilometers of pipeline on its side of the border, Pakistan has not begun construction.

Last month, the caretaker government approved the construction of an 80 kilometers section of the gas pipeline to avoid the contractual penalties worth $7 billion.

Iran has already extended the 180-day deadline till September 2024 to Pakistan. Iran has also told Islamabad that failing this deadline, they would move International Arbitration seeking a penalty of $18 billion.