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Afghan president: Trump's war plan better than Obama's

Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai addresses the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday. Photo: Frank Franklin II / AP

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said Wednesday that Trump's strategy for the war in Afghanistan is better than Barack Obama's was, per Reuters. The winning points, per Ghani:

  • Trump wants a regional approach
  • Trump wants a harder line with Pakistan
  • Ghani also pointed out Obama didn't have former Afghan President Hamid Karzai on board with U.S. plans

Trump's 4 year plan: Ghani also told NPR in an interview set to air Thursday that the goal with Trump's plan is to bring "80% of the territory of the country under" government control within 4 years, the AP reports. The Taliban currently holds about 50% of territory.

Earlier this week U.S. Defense Secretary Mattis announced the U.S. would be sending more than 3,000 additional troops to Afghanistan.

Go deeper: Trump lays out plan to continue Afghanistan War