Reading information from different sites concerning the Hazara people has given me the chance to understand what it is exactly about these people/ this particular ethnic group that deserves the hatred/dislike/contempt of the Pashtuns and other ethnic majorities.
The Hazaras "appear" to be descendants from Mongolia (though their bloodline traces back to the original population in Pakistan, includes varying regional ethnicities, as well as travelers who passed along the Silk Route.), the first Pashtuns (the original, the first Pashtun civilization) were conquered by the Mongols, as Afghanistan was once a part of the Mongol Empire.
There are other reasons the Hazara people are disliked, their different religious beliefs, as well as separate economic and political roots. Their religion and the Pashtun's religion are from two different branches of Islam.
The Pashtuns are traditionally pastoral nomads, meaning that they migrated with their animals to where ever there was grass for grazing. They are divided into 1.)clans 2.)subclans 3.)patriarchal families. In the family, the father is the head; when his sons marry, they bring their wives to live with them in their father's house. When a daughter marries, she moves into the house of her husband and his family.
They abide by an honor code by the name of Pashtunwali. This includes the concepts of milmastia (hospitality), tureh (Courage), Badal (revenge), and ghayrat (the protecting of one's honor). When I learned of these beliefs about hospitality, courage, revenge, etc., I understood who Baba was. He was rooted in courage, respect, hospitality, and the concept of honor.
"Do you always have to be the hero? I thought, my heart fluttering. Can't you just let it go for once? But I knew he couldn't- it wasn't in his nature." Amir is referring to the incident with the German soldier that happened when he and Baba were fleeing the country with other refugees. One of the soldiers wanted to rape one of the refugees (she was, in fact, married and her husband was with her). Baba stood up to that soldier and protected the woman. Not only for the sake of protecting the woman's honor and purity, but also to show others that they needn't be intimidated by the Germen.
In general, when you know some background information or the backstory to a particular book, movie, etc., it is more enjoyable because you understand the context. Conducting research on who the Hazara and Pashtun people are helped me to see and appreciate the characters Amir and Hassan, as well as the intricacies of their servant/master relationship. I believe one major theme of The Kite Runner (Superior/Inferior; Persecution/Persecuted) is embodied by the Hazara/Pashtun relationship and how Hassan and Ali are treated by others in the community.
http://www.minorityrights.org/5440/afghanistan/hazaras.html
http://fensti.freehostia.com/Engl180/KiteRunner/Tribes.html
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Pashtun_people
http://asianhistory.about.com/od/glossaryps/g/Who-Are-The-Pashtun.htm
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