A United States court on Tuesday sentenced a former Taliban commander to 42 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for his role in taking hostages, including an American journalist. The New York court handed down the sentence to 50-year-old Haji Najibullah for his involvement in the hostage taking of an American journalist and two Afghan nationals in Afghanistan and Pakistan during 2008 and 2009, according to a court document.
Leadership in Attacks on US Servicemembers
Najibullah was also sentenced for leading Taliban fighters who carried out attacks on US servicemembers in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2009, resulting in the deaths of American soldiers. The court document stated that on April 25, 2025, Najibullah pleaded guilty to hostage taking and providing material support for acts of terrorism resulting in death.
Statements from US Officials
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said, according to the document, “Those who harm Americans and engage in acts of terrorism will be hunted down and brought to justice, no matter how long it takes. As a Taliban commander, Najibullah supported brutal terrorist attacks that killed American servicemembers and orchestrated the savage hostage-taking of an American journalist and Afghan civilians. Today’s sentence delivers justice for the victims and their families.”
