Kidnapped US journalist faces Taliban captor in court as 42-year sentence caps long saga

Haji Najibullah imprisoned for role in capture of David Rohde, New York Times journalist held for months in 2008

Haji Najibullah appeared unbothered as he walked into Manhattan federal court earlier this week to learn whether he would face life behind bars for his role in brutal violence during his time as a Taliban commander – including the 2008 kidnapping of US journalist David Rohde.

Najibullah, who walked into the courtroom in shackles at about 9.50am Monday, sporting khaki jail garb and a black skullcap, could even be seen grinning at various points before proceedings started.