Ex-taliban commander gets 42-year US prison sentence in hostage case

A United States federal court in New York has sentenced former Taliban commander Haji Najibullah to 42 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for his involvement in hostage-taking and terrorism-related activities involving American and Afghan nationals.

According to court documents and statements from the US Department of Justice, the 50-year-old was convicted for his role in the abduction of an American journalist and two Afghan citizens in Afghanistan and Pakistan during 2008 and 2009. 

Prosecutors said the case also included charges linked to his leadership of Taliban fighters responsible for attacks on US forces between 2007 and 2009, which resulted in the deaths of American servicemembers.

Najibullah previously pleaded guilty on April 25, 2025, to charges including hostage taking and providing material support for acts of terrorism that led to death. 

The court said his actions formed part of coordinated militant operations targeting both civilians and military personnel during the conflict period.

US Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, in a statement cited by court records, said those who target American citizens and engage in terrorism “will be hunted down and brought to justice, no matter how long it takes.” He further described Najibullah’s role as including orchestrating hostage-taking operations and supporting attacks that killed US troops.