Updated on Friday, November 21, 2008, 00:00 IST

Kathmandu, Nov 21: Nepal has sought China's help in resolving its border disputes with India, including the issue of Kalapani, a strategic border stretch on the tri-junction of the three countries, a media report here said.

The Kalapani Border dispute could be resolved through a trilateral understanding among Nepal, India and China, Deputy Prime Minister Bamdev Gautam was quoted as saying.

Gautam is learnt to have told this to a visiting Chinese military delegation led by Major General Ei Hujeng yesterday.

The report claimed that Kalapani, a 75 sqkm area in Nepal's Darchula district bordering the hill districts of Uttarakhand, is in Indian control since the 1962 Sino-Indian war.

"The discussion took place on border management," Home Secretary Gobinda Kusum was quoted as saying. "We wanted to settle all issues through dialogue," he added.

However, Home Ministry spokesman Navin Ghimire told that the meeting was just a courtesy call and denied having any information about the issue being raised in the talks.

The joint technical team between Nepal and India has been actively engaged in resolving disputes at various border points. However, Nepal has asked India to involve China in resolving the Kalapani border dispute as the area is in tri-junction of the three countries, the paper said.

The report further stated that Nepal had drawn the attention of Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee towards the issue of Kalapani and Susta borders during Nepalese Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav's recent visit to India to participate in the BIMSTEC Summit.

The issue is likely to figure during Mukherjee's visit to Nepal starting from November 24. The Chinese delegation also met Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa "Badal" and discussed several issues including border management, according to the report.

Bureau Report