A former Taliban commander was sentenced to 42 years in federal prison for his role in the 2008 kidnapping of American journalist David Rohde and for providing support tied to attacks that killed three U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.

Haji Najibullah pleaded guilty last year to providing material support for acts of terrorism and conspiring to take hostages. Prosecutors said he played a key role in Rohde’s seven-month captivity before he escaped.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the sentence shows that those who harm Americans and engage in terrorism “will be hunted down and brought to justice, no matter how long it takes.”