The presidents of Iran and Pakistan mark the start of construction on a much-delayed gas pipeline, despite U.S. pressure on Islamabad to back out of the project.<br/> <br />The US has steadfastly opposed Pakistani and Indian involvement in the project, saying it could violate sanctions imposed on Iran.<br/> <br />It's called the "peace pipeline". The $7 billion project has faced repeated delays since it was conceived in the 1990s to connect Iran's gas field to India via Pakistan.<br/> <br />India quit the project in 2009, citing costs and security, a year after it signed a nuclear deal with Washington.<br/> <br />Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says no one has anything to fear from the pipeline.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD, SAYING:<br/> <br />"Those foreign elements who are against the progress of the region, use the excuse of our nuclear program to hinder the progress of Iran. I want to tell those people that the gas pipeline has no connection whatsoever with the nucl
