A former high-ranking Taliban commander has admitted guilt to charges including hostage-taking and supporting acts of terrorism that led to the deaths of American service members, according to the Justice Department.
Haji Najibullah, 49, entered a guilty plea related to incidents occurring between 2007 and 2009. These actions encompassed the abduction of an American journalist and two Afghan citizens in Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as his leadership over Taliban forces responsible for attacks against U.S. soldiers within Afghanistan.
“Najibullah perpetrated these crimes more than fifteen years ago and now stands accountable in a United States courtroom,” stated U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “This guilty plea underscores our commitment to relentlessly pursue those who inflict harm on Americans through terrorism, regardless of their location or the time it takes to secure justice for the victims.”
The charges against Najibullah are directly linked to a series of events:
- Hostage Crisis: The kidnapping of an American journalist and two Afghan citizens.
- Attack on U.S. Military Convoy (June 2008): This resulted in the deaths of three U.S. Army soldiers – Sergeants 1st Class Matthew L. Hilton, Joseph A. McKay, and Sergeant Mark Palmateer – as well as their Afghan interpreter. Numerous other soldiers sustained injuries during this assault.
- Helicopter Downing (October 2008): Najibullah is accused of involvement in an attack that brought down a U.S. military helicopter.
- Forced March and Coercion: Following the kidnapping, the hostages were compelled to travel into Pakistan and produce videos demanding ransom payments and the release of Taliban prisoners held by the United States.
Court documents reveal Najibullah commanded over 1,000 troops and was responsible for operations within Afghanistan’s Wardak Province (Jaghato district). These forces routinely launched attacks against both American and NATO personnel operating outside of Kabul.
Najibullah had been apprehended in Ukraine and subsequently extradited to the United States in October 2020. He is currently held in federal custody and faces a potential life sentence as punishment for his crimes.
