Haji Najibullah faces life in prison after admitting to orchestrating kidnappings and deadly attacks on U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
A former Taliban commander has pleaded guilty in U.S. federal court to charges stemming from his role in the kidnapping of an American journalist and two Afghan citizens, as well as the deaths of several U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan. Haji Najibullah, 49, entered his guilty plea to multiple terrorism-related charges, including hostage taking and providing material support for acts of terrorism resulting in death, according to statements from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Najibullah’s crimes took place between 2007 and 2009, when he served as a Taliban commander overseeing more than 1,000 troops in Afghanistan’s Wardak Province, particularly in the Jaghato district. Under his leadership, Taliban fighters carried out a series of attacks targeting American and NATO forces near Kabul.
The charges against Najibullah include direct involvement in a June 2008 attack on a U.S. military convoy that led to the deaths of three American Army soldiers—Sgt. 1st Class Matthew L. Hilton, Sgt. 1st Class Joseph A. McKay, and Sgt. Mark Palmateer—as well as an Afghan interpreter. Several other American soldiers were also injured during the assault. In addition, Najibullah’s forces were responsible for an October 2008 attack that resulted in the downing of a U.S. military helicopter.
In November 2008, Najibullah orchestrated the kidnapping of an American journalist, David Rohde—a former correspondent for Reuters—and two Afghan nationals. The hostages were seized at gunpoint in Afghanistan and forced to march across the border into Pakistan. There, they were held captive and made to produce ransom videos demanding payment and the release of Taliban prisoners held by the United States.
During an interview with a French journalist, Najibullah boasted about targeting both American and French troops, further highlighting his active engagement in orchestrating deadly attacks against Western forces. U.S. prosecutors noted that Najibullah’s leadership demonstrated a “complete disregard for humanity,” resulting in “premature deaths of American citizens,” as described by FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia.
After more than a decade, Najibullah was arrested in Ukraine and extradited to the United States in October 2020. He has been in federal custody since then. His guilty plea underscores the Justice Department’s and the FBI’s commitment to pursuing justice for Americans harmed by acts of terrorism, regardless of where those crimes occur or how much time passes.
“This Office, and our law enforcement partners, will aggressively pursue those who harm Americans through acts of terror, no matter where in the world they may be, and no matter how long it may take to achieve justice for their victims,” U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said.
Haji Najibullah now faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
