Royal Nepal Army (RNA) is preparing for its second 10-year-plan to “expand and modernize” RNA, a published report said Thursday quoting military sources.

“We are still at a preliminary stage of the plan,” The Himalayan Times quoted army sources as saying. “Chiefly, the long-term plan aims at increasing the army’s strength and equipping soldiers with new weapons systems.”

The daily further said army wants to establish Division Headquarters in all the five development regions by increasing its strength to at least 100,000 in the long run.

“In addition to the Valley Command Division, the 72,000-strong army has already formed its regional headquarters in Nepalgunj, Pokhara and Itahari in the mid-western, western and eastern regions.”

The newspaper further said the new plan also aims at replacing old weapons systems. The first ten-year plan was brought in 1986. nepalnews.com mr Oct 23