Latest news with #HajiNajibullah
Express Tribune
27-04-2025
- Express Tribune
Ex-Taliban commander pleads guilty in US
A former commander in the Taliban has pleaded guilty to taking an American journalist and two Afghan nationals hostage in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2008 and 2009, the US Justice Department said on Friday. Haji Najibullah, 49, an Afghan national, who was charged in 2020 with kidnapping David Rohde, a former Reuters correspondent, faces life in prison. He previously pleaded guilty in the case. Najibullah also changed his plea to guilty in a case related to the deaths of US troops in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2009. The Justice Department pointed to examples of Taliban fighters -- under Najibullah's leadership - targeting the US military in Afghanistan.
AsiaOne
26-04-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
Ex-Taliban commander pleads guilty to taking US journalist hostage, World News
WASHINGTON — A former commander in the Taliban has pleaded guilty to taking an American journalist and two Afghan nationals hostage in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2008 and 2009, the US Justice Department said on Friday (April 25). Haji Najibullah, 49, an Afghan national, who was charged in 2020 with kidnapping David Rohde, a former Reuters correspondent, faces life in prison. He previously pleaded guilty in the case. Najibullah also changed his plea to guilty in a case related to the deaths of US troops in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2009. The Justice Department pointed to examples of Taliban fighters — under Najibullah's leadership — targeting the US military in Afghanistan. It also highlighted his comments made during an interview with a French journalist about how he targeted French and American troops. "These terrorist attacks demonstrated utter disregard for humanity, and Najibullah finally admitted to his role in these premature deaths of our citizens," FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia said in a statement. "Today's plea emphasizes the FBI New York JTTF's unwavering resolve to disrupting all acts of terrorism and ensuring any individual who targets our country will be held accountable." Jay Clayton, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, said his office will continue to aggressively pursue those who harm Americans — through acts of terror — regardless of where they are located in the world. ALSO READ: Afghan Taliban member freed from US custody in exchange for 2 Americans, Kabul says
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Taliban commander pleads guilty to kidnapping of journalist, killings of US soldiers
A former Taliban commander has pleaded guilty to taking hostages, including an American journalist, and the deaths of U.S. soldiers, the Justice Department said Friday. Haji Najibullah, 49, pleaded guilty to hostage taking and providing material support for acts of terrorism resulting in death in connection with his role in the hostage taking of an American journalist and two Afghan citizens in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2008 and 2009, as well as his leadership of Taliban fighters who carried out attacks on U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan, between 2007 and 2009, resulting in the deaths of American soldiers. Taliban Frees American Hostage George Glezmann Following Negotiations With Us, Qatar "Najibullah committed his crimes in Afghanistan over 15 years ago, and now faces justice in an American courtroom," U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said in a statement. "Today's guilty plea serves as an emphatic reminder that 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." The charges against Najibullah stem from the kidnapping of the journalist and attacks on a U.S. military convoy that resulted in the deaths of three Army soldiers — Sgts. 1st Class Matthew L. Hilton and Joseph A. McKay, and Sgt. Mark Palmateer — and their Afghan interpreter in June 2008. Several other soldiers were injured in the attack. Read On The Fox News App Faye Hall, American Detained By Taliban, Has Been Released He was also charged with an October attack that same year in which a U.S. military helicopter was shot down. In November of that year, fighters under Najibullah's command took hostage an American journalist and two Afghan nationals at gunpoint in Afghanistan. They were forced to hike to neighboring Pakistan, where they were forced to make videos demanding ransom payments and the release of Taliban terrorists held by the U.S. government, federal prosecutors said. The Taliban commander was responsible for the Jaghato district in Afghanistan's Wardak Province, court documents state. He had over 1,000 troops under his command, who he had conduct attacks on American and NATO troops outside of Kabul. Najibullah was arrested and extradited from Ukraine in October 2020, and is now in federal custody in the U.S. He faces a life sentence in article source: Former Taliban commander pleads guilty to kidnapping of journalist, killings of US soldiers
The Star
25-04-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Ex-Taliban commander pleads guilty to taking US journalist hostage
FILE PHOTO: Former Taliban commander Haji Najibullah, previously accused of kidnapping an American journalist, appears on charges related to murdering three U.S. troops in Afghanistan in 2008 during a court hearing in New York, U.S., October 15, 2021 in this courtroom sketch. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg/File photo WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A former commander in the Taliban has pleaded guilty to taking an American journalist and two Afghan nationals hostage in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2008 and 2009, the U.S. Justice Department said on Friday. Haji Najibullah, 49, an Afghan national, who was charged in 2020 with kidnapping David Rohde, a former Reuters correspondent, faces life in prison. He previously pleaded guilty in the case. Najibullah also changed his plea to guilty in a case related to the deaths of U.S. troops in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2009. The Justice Department pointed to examples of Taliban fighters - under Najibullah's leadership - targeting the U.S. military in Afghanistan. It also highlighted his comments made during an interview with a French journalist about how he targeted French and American troops. "These terrorist attacks demonstrated utter disregard for humanity, and Najibullah finally admitted to his role in these premature deaths of our citizens," FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia said in a statement. "Today's plea emphasizes the FBI New York JTTF's unwavering resolve to disrupting all acts of terrorism and ensuring any individual who targets our country will be held accountable.' Jay Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said his office will continue to aggressively pursue those who harm Americans - through acts of terror - regardless of where they are located in the world. (Reporting by Jasper Ward; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
Straits Times
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Ex-Taliban commander pleads guilty to taking US journalist hostage
FILE PHOTO: Former Taliban commander Haji Najibullah, previously accused of kidnapping an American journalist, appears on charges related to murdering three U.S. troops in Afghanistan in 2008 during a court hearing in New York, U.S., October 15, 2021 in this courtroom sketch. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg/File photo WASHINGTON - A former commander in the Taliban has pleaded guilty to taking an American journalist and two Afghan nationals hostage in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2008 and 2009, the U.S. Justice Department said on Friday. Haji Najibullah, 49, an Afghan national, who was charged in 2020 with kidnapping David Rohde, a former Reuters correspondent, faces life in prison. He previously pleaded guilty in the case. Najibullah also changed his plea to guilty in a case related to the deaths of U.S. troops in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2009. The Justice Department pointed to examples of Taliban fighters - under Najibullah's leadership - targeting the U.S. military in Afghanistan. It also highlighted his comments made during an interview with a French journalist about how he targeted French and American troops. "These terrorist attacks demonstrated utter disregard for humanity, and Najibullah finally admitted to his role in these premature deaths of our citizens," FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia said in a statement. "Today's plea emphasizes the FBI New York JTTF's unwavering resolve to disrupting all acts of terrorism and ensuring any individual who targets our country will be held accountable.' Jay Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said his office will continue to aggressively pursue those who harm Americans - through acts of terror - regardless of where they are located in the world. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
