US defense secretary: Taliban went too far in Pakistan, won’t gain control of nuclear weapons

Gates: Taliban won’t get Pakistani nuclear weapons

KABUL — Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the Taliban “overreached” when they advanced on a district of Pakistan just outside the capital city.

Gates, visiting next-door Afghanistan, says he is encouraged that the Pakistani Army is taking on the Taliban. He says there is “very little chance” that the Taliban could grow strong enough in Pakistan to ever gain control of that country’s nuclear weapons.

Gates is in Afghanistan to see how U.S. forces are preparing for a new push against the Taliban and related militant groups there. Much of his trip has been overshadowed by claims of civilian deaths from a U.S. air strike last weekend.

Gates offered a new expression of U.S. regret for that incident, but stopped short of taking blame.