Pakistan said on Wednesday a natural gas pipeline planned to run from Central Asia to energy-starved South Asia will go ahead even if rival India refuses to join the project.

Pakistan's Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Nauraiz Shakoor Khan said construction of the 1,600-km pipeline from gas-rich Turkmenistan to Pakistan via Afghanistan could start as early as next year.

"If India does not participate, even then this gas pipeline is going to come to Pakistan," Khan told Reuters.

Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkmenistan  -- the three key participants in the project -- formally invited India in April to join the pipeline that will snake through some of the world's most rugged and insecure terrain.

India has expressed concern over security but a recent thaw in its relations with fellow nuclear power Pakistan revived hopes for the project, that is expected to cost $2-2.5 billion and take three years to build.

Khan said pre-qualification of the companies interested in investing in the pipeline had been completed and the groundwork could start in early 2004.

"On paper, it had been decided that we are going to complete feasibility by September 2002 and to start (work) in the first quarter of next year," he said.

"It's on track. There is no problem as yet."

The pipeline will carry up to 30 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year from Turkmenistan's Daulatabad fields, the world's fourth-largest gas reserves.

It is intended to supply northern India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, as well as Pakistan's Arabian Sea ports for shipment to other Asian markets.

Khan said the project's steering committee is due to meet later this month in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, to review progress.