NEW YORK — Haji Najibullah, identified as a 50-year-old former Taliban commander, was sentenced to 42 years in prison and five years of supervised release on terrorism charges in April 2025. The United States Department of Justice announced the sentencing.

The charges against Najibullah stemmed from his activities as a Taliban commander on the border of Kabul between 2007 and 2009. During this period, Najibullah led attacks targeting U.S. servicemembers and allies. A June 2008 attack resulted in the deaths of three U.S. Army servicemembers and an Afghan interpreter, and also injured several individuals. A separate attack led by Najibullah on an Afghan National Police outpost led to the deaths of three Afghan police officers.

Najibullah also took an American journalist hostage in 2008 and 2009. He also took two Afghan nationals hostage during the same timeframe. The hostages were held under armed guard for seven months before they escaped.

In April 2025, Najibullah pleaded guilty to hostage-taking and supporting acts of terrorism that resulted in death. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated, "Those who harm Americans and engage in acts of terrorism will be hunted down and brought to justice, no matter how long it takes." Blanche added, "As a Taliban commander, Najibullah supported terrorist attacks that killed American servicemembers and orchestrated the hostage-taking of an American journalist and Afghan civilians."

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton commented on the sentencing. "Today's sentence sends a clear message that there will be consequences for those who aim to harm Americans and military personnel through acts of terror," Clayton said. Clayton acknowledged assistance from the FBI's New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, the New York and New Jersey Port Authority Police, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice's National Security Division. He also thanked Ukrainian authorities and the International Affairs Office of the U.S. Justice Department's Criminal Division for their assistance with Najibullah's arrest and transfer.

No independent assessment of Haji Najibullah’s claims was available.