Haji Najibullah, a former Taliban commander, received a 42-year prison sentence on June 9, 2026, in a Manhattan federal court for hostage taking and providing material support for terrorism [1, 2, 3]. Najibullah, 50, pleaded guilty in April 2025 to charges that included hostage taking resulting in death and supporting terrorism [1, 2, 3, 4].
Najibullah led Taliban fighters who kidnapped American journalist David Rohde, an Afghan journalist, and a driver in November 2008. The hostages were held for over seven months before escaping in June 2009 [1, 2, 4]. His fighters also carried out a 2008 attack that killed three US soldiers and an Afghan interpreter [1, 2, 3, 4].
Judge Katherine Polk Failla cited Najibullah’s guilty plea and the harsh prison conditions he would face in rejecting the prosecution’s request for life and the defense’s request for 18 years, settling on a 42-year sentence. She said, “Mr Najibullah’s conduct included supporting and enabling terrorist acts, carried out the hostage taking with casual brutality and psychological torture” [1].
Najibullah expressed remorse during the hearing, telling Rohde, “What happened to him was terrible, and I deeply regret my role in it” [1]. Rohde spoke emotionally, calling hostage taking “a cruel and cowardly crime” and lamenting the pain it caused families, who often lack the funds to meet ransom demands. He added he was “surprised and disappointed that Najibullah was attempting to shift blame for the kidnapping” [2].
Najibullah was captured in Ukraine in 2020 and extradited to the US to stand trial [4]. Acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche praised the sentence, saying, “Those who harm Americans and engage in acts of terrorism will be hunted down and brought to justice, no matter how long it takes.” He called Najibullah’s actions “brutal terrorist attacks” and said today’s sentence “delivers justice for the victims and their families” [3].
