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A former Afghan Taliban commander, aged 50, who faced charges from the United States for kidnapping a journalist and causing the deaths of American troops in 2008, received a 42-year prison sentence on Tuesday. US prosecutors accused Haji Najibullah of kidnapping an American journalist, identified as David Rohde of the New York Times, along with two Afghan civilians. He was also charged with the deaths of three US soldiers and an Afghan interpreter during an attack led by his forces in June 2008.
Najibullah was captured in Ukraine and extradited to the US in 2020. Last year, he pleaded guilty to charges of hostage-taking and providing material support for terrorist acts resulting in death, according to a Justice Department release.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized, “Those who harm Americans and partake in terrorism activities will be tracked down and face justice, regardless of how long it takes.” Rohde, along with a translator and driver, was kidnapped in Afghanistan in November 2008. The New York Times, which kept the news confidential to protect Rohde, reported that he escaped captivity in June 2009.
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