Ashu, RNA has bought dozen or so M17 helicopters, 10's of thousands of M16's and Chinese grenades, recruited tens of thousands of more soldiers, spent billions more on defense, and RNA has not been successful in containing the Maoists. They still have no clue when 4,000 Maoists assemble to attack Palpa. WHY? By your logic, can we say that RNA Generals are interested in prolonging the war? After all, NO WAR => Less defense budget => Less arms and supply procurements => Less commissions for the generals. Defense aid from the US and India may have no commissions tied to them. But there are still a lot of weapons, helicopters, and supplies that are purchased by RNA in a commercial basis. Also, another observation that I find interesting is that every time a cease fire is broken, RNA is involved some how (or are blamed by Maoists?) 1) In the second cease fire, Maoists and Government were haggling about the constituent assembly. And RNA murders 16 unarmed Maoists in Doramba during the third round of ceasefire. Maoists use this pretext to break the ceasefire. The RNA major involved in the massacre gets a slap on the wrist. 2) In the third cease fire, RNA sits idle for most of the cease fire. And when the cease fire nears the end, they start their Rolpa offensive. Maoists again use this offensive to break the ceasefire. And surprisingly, after Maoists break their ceasefire, RNA returns to barrack without any major confrontations. I do not trust Maoists but RNA's behavior is really mysterious. Why even do something that gives Maoists an excuse? So Ashu, does "the incentive is to play up the crisis; get more funding, attract more attention, and so on and on, " apply to RNA as well? P.s. This is also a hypothesis.