„‚Iran is covertly recruiting hundreds of Afghan Shias in Afghanistan to fight for Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, drawing them out of their own conflict-ridden country and into another war in which Afghanistan plays no official part. The Afghan fighters are often impoverished, religiously devout or ostracised from society, looking for money, social acceptance and a sense of purpose that they are unable to find at home. Iran’s recruitment of Afghan migrants and refugees within its own borders has been documented. But similar Iranian activities inside Afghanistan had previously gone unreported. (…)
From his ‚travel agency‘ on the second floor of a non-descript office building, Jawad connected combat willing men with Iran’s embassy in Kabul. The embassy assisted with visas and travel, and paid Jawad a commission for his troubles. In return for fighting, Afghans are offered a residence permit in Iran and about $500 monthly salary. (…) A new Iranian law allows the government to grant citizenship to families of Afghans slain in the Syria war. The law is likely an attempt to encourage them to take on more risky missions, and attract recruits, said Toumaj.“
(Sune Engel Rasmussen/Zahra Nader: „Iran covertly recruits Afghan Shias to fight in Syria“)
