Reports that the Taliban have recruited a Hazara leader are part of broader efforts to change the militant group’s image.

2 Most are Imami Shia Muslims, recognizing the leadership of a succession of twelve Imams beginning with the Prophet Muhammad's son-in-law Ali. A minority are Ismaili Shia, who look for leadership ...

"President Karzai needs to start standing up for human rights" Koofi says that is exactly what happened when the Afghan parliament recently passed a bill intended to give the minority Shia ...

Wizened Afghan hands have known the Taliban to be stubborn allies since inception. In the 1990s they gave sanctuary to Pakistani sectarian militants who tormented the country’s Shias.

They have also suffered massacres across various Afghan governments in recent decades, but especially under the Taliban - hardline Sunni Muslims who have usually labelled Shias heretics.