Further progress made on Turkmen-Pakistan pipeline route
After a number of negotiation sessions held between Taleban and anti-Taleban leaders and mediated by the Central Asian Gas Pipeline Company, the two sides have agreed to sign protocols guaranteeing the security of the pipeline itself, as well as of the Turkmen, Afghan, and Pakistani workers who will be engaged in building the pipeline.
The protocols also set out labor conditions for the workers. The protocols will be submitted for ratification to the governments of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan in August, in the hope that pipeline construction can begin before the end of this year. (Interfax, 1601 GMT, 13 Jun 98; FBIS-SOV-98-164)