WASHINGTON — A former Taliban commander has pleaded guilty to kidnapping an American journalist and two Afghan nationals, as well as to carrying out attacks that killed US soldiers in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2009, the US Justice Department announced Friday.
Haji Najibullah, 49, an Afghan national, admitted to taking David Rohde, a former Reuters correspondent, hostage in Afghanistan and later moving him to Pakistan in 2008 and 2009. Najibullah was initially charged in 2020 and faces a potential sentence of life in prison.
In addition to the kidnapping charges, Najibullah pleaded guilty to charges related to deadly attacks against US troops operating in Afghanistan. The Justice Department cited evidence of Taliban fighters under Najibullah’s command targeting both American and French forces, including comments he made during an interview with a French journalist where he described the targeting of foreign troops.
“These terrorist attacks demonstrated utter disregard for humanity, and Najibullah finally admitted to his role in these premature deaths of our citizens,” said Christopher G. Raia, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s New York field office. “Today’s plea emphasizes the FBI New York Joint Terrorism Task Force’s unwavering resolve to disrupt all acts of terrorism and ensure that any individual who targets our country will be held accountable.”
Jay Clayton, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, said the plea underscores the US commitment to pursuing those who harm Americans, no matter where they are located.
“Our office will continue to aggressively pursue those who commit acts of terror against Americans,” Clayton said in a statement.
Najibullah is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date. He has been held in US custody since his extradition from Ukraine in 2020.
