NEW YORK — A former Taliban commander has pleaded guilty to taking American journalist David Rohde and two Afghan nationals hostage in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2008 and 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The man, Haji Najibullah, 49, also admitted responsibility for orchestrating deadly attacks against U.S. military forces in Afghanistan during the same period.
Najibullah, an Afghan national, entered his guilty plea in a U.S. federal court after previously contesting the charges. He now faces the possibility of life in prison for his role in high-profile hostage-taking and coordinated assaults that resulted in American deaths.
Initially charged in 2020, Najibullah was extradited to the United States to stand trial for the kidnapping of Rohde, a former Reuters correspondent who was abducted along with Afghan journalist Tahir Ludin and their driver, Asadullah Mangal. The men were held for over seven months before Rohde and Ludin escaped captivity in Pakistan. Mangal was released separately.
The Justice Department confirmed that Najibullah has also changed his plea to guilty in a separate terrorism case involving fatal attacks on U.S. troops between 2007 and 2009. Prosecutors cited his direct leadership of Taliban fighters who ambushed American and coalition forces, underscoring his active role in orchestrating violence against the U.S. military.
“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, FBI Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force. “Today’s plea emphasizes the FBI’s unwavering resolve to disrupt all acts of terrorism and ensure that anyone who targets our country will be held accountable.”
During a past interview with a French journalist, Najibullah boasted about specifically targeting U.S. and French forces, according to federal authorities, further solidifying the government’s case against him. Prosecutors said that his militant actions and ideological alignment with the Taliban made him a persistent threat throughout the U.S. war in Afghanistan.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton of the Southern District of New York stated that his office remains committed to pursuing individuals who endanger American lives—no matter where in the world the crimes occur.
“This plea sends a clear message that the United States will not forget or forgive acts of terror against its citizens,” Clayton said. “We will continue to pursue those responsible, hold them accountable, and bring them to justice—even years after the crimes were committed.”
Najibullah remains in federal custody while awaiting sentencing, with a date yet to be scheduled. His conviction marks a significant legal milestone in U.S. efforts to prosecute foreign nationals involved in acts of terrorism against Americans overseas.
