Reportedly, the Iranians have lost several high ranking officers in Syria, due to fratricide from these Afghan Hazara mercenaries.
There is a big cultural divide. Class is more distinct in Iran, and after thirty five years of dictatorship, the masters have grown more bold and the subjects more meek - in Afghanistan, not so much. Afghans are not fearful people.
Abusive treatment of subordinates by an Iranian General is accepted, even expected. Abusive treatment of an Afghan is significantly more dangerous. There have been several Iranian Colonels and Generals (some from among very prominent families) shot dead by their Hazara troops.
The Iranians have extensively replaced their Regular Army and Revolutionary Guards troops in Syria with Afghan Hazara militia. Although they have had a challenge with leadership and discipline, it has greatly reduced the political problem they had back home from the high rate of casualties - the most since the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980’s.
It sounds like Hazaras are the equivalent of Hussars, rough fearless mercenaries.
“the Iranians have lost several high ranking officers in Syria”
I suggest you should be more specific.
It isn’t “the Iranians”, but the Regime in Iran.
When you say “the Iranians” it implies that all Iranians support the Regime in Iran. They don’t and Iran politically is not the USA in its process of election or selection. Alas, even if most Americans voted for Obama (twice).
>>>”There is a big cultural divide. Class is more distinct in Iran, <<<
There is no “social class” per se in Iran today compared to the Shah’s era for example. The divide in today’s Iranian society is based on the following:
1) the ones who toe the line with Iranian regime, because they truly believe in it, ideologically (that’s the minority, actually).
2) the ones who toe the line with the Regime in Iran, because their livelihood is very much dependent on the regime (this grp is most of the Iranians in Iran).
3) the ones who do not, and are not dependent on the Regime in Iran; economically, politically or otherwise. For this group it is and will be about the alternative to the Regime in Iran.
Let’s face it, after 35 some yrs, the USA has not and does not wish to have an alternative to an Islamic Regime in Iran.
The USA simply, one way or another, continues to support the Islamic Regime in Iran, as the Americans (sorry, Carter did) back in 1979.
Surprisingly and sadly, the convoluted logic even from the ardent Americans, who profess to be anti Islamic Regime seems to be: “the majority of Iranians are muslims. Hence, at best, let’s have the Islamic Reformists in charge instead of a conservative ones” —— Pathetic.
So, IOW, no solution in sight. Unless you want to toe the line with what McCain said: “bomb, bomb Iran”.
Then again, in time, we may just have to bomb the entire ME, and North Africa.... and more...