A former Taliban commander was sentenced to 42 years in prison by a New York federal court for multiple crimes including the kidnapping of American journalist David Rohde and killings of U.S. soldiers.

Haji Najibullah was convicted for his role in the 2008 kidnapping of Rohde, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who was held captive by Taliban forces. The sentencing hearing included victim impact statements from those affected by Najibullah's crimes.

During the court proceedings, Rohde directly addressed his former captor, describing hostage taking as a cowardly and cruel crime. The journalist's testimony provided a personal account of the impact of the kidnapping on victims and their families.

The charges against Najibullah extended beyond the journalist's kidnapping to include involvement in attacks that resulted in the deaths of American military personnel. The case represents part of ongoing efforts by U.S. authorities to prosecute Taliban members for crimes against American citizens and service members.

The 42-year sentence reflects the severity of the crimes and sends a message about accountability for acts of terrorism and hostage taking involving American victims overseas.