A former Taliban commander, Haji Najibullah, pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court to providing material support for terrorism and conspiring to take hostages, including his involvement in the 2008 kidnapping of New York Times reporter David Rohde. Najibullah acknowledged his role in attacks that resulted in the deaths of U.S. soldiers and detailed his command of fighters who conducted assaults using various weapons. He faces a recommended life sentence at his upcoming sentencing on October 23, with Rohde expressing gratitude for the justice served and highlighting the dangers faced by journalists globally.