SUMMARY

TTP – MR (Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan – Mulla Rafique faction, Taleban Movement of Pakistan – Mulla Rafique faction) is a group of militants belonging to the Taleban Movement of Pakistan (TTP). TTP is an umbrella organisation covering numerous militant groups, most of them based in the tribal areas along the border to Afghanistan. TTP was formally established in December 2007 as an alliance of various militant leaders and Sunni extremists. Their stated goals are to enforce Sharia law and to perform defensive jihad against the Pakistan army. Despite being part of TTP and sharing the same ideology and overarching goals, many of the factions are deeply rooted in their parts of the tribal areas and have distinct identities.

Mullah Rafique is a Taleban commander from Sada in Lower Kurram Agency and he belongs to the Bangesh tribe. As a local group of Sunni militants, the group of Mullah Rafique opposes the growing influence of Taleban groups from other areas of Pakistan’s tribal belt.

The Mullah Rafique faction of TTP has been in the non-state category of UCDP organised violence.