Former Taliban Commander Gets 42 Years for Kidnapping New York Times Reporter

ABC reported overnight (between Tuesday and Wednesday) that a federal court in New York sentenced 50-year-old Haji Najibullah, a former Taliban commander, to 42 years in prison. He was convicted in the kidnapping of American journalist David Rohde 18 years ago, as well as directing deadly terror attacks against U.S. Army soldiers serving in Afghanistan. Najibullah was arrested in Ukraine in 2022 while visiting the country, and was extradited by Ukraine to the United States.

As noted, 18 years ago, when he arrived in Afghanistan to conduct a journalistic interview with a Taliban leader, David Rohde, then a reporter for The New York Times, was seized together with two Afghan companions. The three were held for more than seven months under heavy guard by terrorists.

During their captivity, the kidnappers forced the hostages to film "proof of life" videos and make ransom calls intended to pressure the U.S. government to release Taliban prisoners and pay ransom money. One night, Rohde and one of his companions managed to escape captivity and cross the border into Pakistan.

In court, U.S. prosecutors argued that Najibullah served from 2007 to 2009 as a Taliban commander in Wardak Province, near Kabul, and led terror cells that carried out ambushes, roadside bombings, rocket fire, and suicide attacks against American and NATO forces. Several American service members were killed in the attacks, as were Afghan police officers.

U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said after the sentencing that "anyone who harms Americans and commits acts of terror will be pursued and brought to justice, no matter how much time passes."