That frustration has redounded to the favor of moderate opposition parties like the Awami National Party, a Pashtun nationalist party founded by Mr. Wali's grandfather.
General Fahim and Mr. Qanooni, who are both Tajiks, appeared to be eager to show they can be trusted to provide security for leaders from other ethnic groups, like Mr. Karzai, a Pashtun.
First, some of the leaders who were instrumental in Pakistan movement could not wriggle themselves out of the movement mode and continued their practice of projecting Islam as a rallying call in places like Khyber Pukhtunkhawa (a Pashtun majority province) as the Pashtun nationalists had initially refused to join Pakistan.
As for relations between Pashtuns and Hazaras, he said, "We like Pashtuns, but the Pashtuns don't like us.
Hekmatyar was the most brutal member of the group, but, crucially, he was a Pashtun, like Gul.
On the other hand, Mr. Taniwal, a Pashtun like Mr. Zadran, brings not just a scholar's understanding of his ethnic culture but the formidable support of his own tribe, the Tani.
Even though a Pashtun, Mr. Agha said he never liked the Taliban, in part because they seemed to favor wealthy traders over the poorer ones like himself.
At heart, Karzai is a Pashtun tribal leader, just like his father was.
"Is the president a Pashtun?" said Sarwar, a former commander who like many Afghans uses only one name.
"I can handle a Pashtun guerrilla".
