Gates, Clinton jointly discuss issues

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- The Taliban has the "momentum right now" in Afghanistan but it cannot be allowed to win, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said.

"Because of our inability and the inability, frankly, of our allies to put enough troops in Afghanistan, the Taliban do have the momentum right now," Gates, who appeared with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at a program in Washington, told CNN.

In the rare joint interview with CNN, the two Cabinet members said the United States is committed to building long-standing relations with both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Gates warned a Taliban victory would lead to al-Qaida having "added space" for more recruiting and fundraising and allow the group to claim another victory over a superpower after driving out the Soviet Union.

"There should be no uncertainty in terms of our determination to remain in Afghanistan and to continue to build a relationship of partnership and trust with the Pakistanis," he said.

Clinton called for a regional approach in Afghanistan and Pakistan to defeat the terrorists, the report said.

"We're going to come up with what we think is the best approach, but the goal remains the same," Clinton said.

The two officials also said the Iranians need to know they will be better off with a peaceful nuclear program than developing a nuclear weapon.