Kathmandu, June 20: During question hour at the House of Representatives today, Minister for Foreign Affairs Chakra Prasad Bastola said that so far nine ministerial level and other level contacts have been made in connection with resolving the Bhutanese refugees problem.

Mr Bastola said that during the ninth ministerial level meeting held at Thimpu, capital of Bhutan from May 22 to 25, talks were held on immediately sending a task force for verification of the Bhutanese refugees.

Mr Bastola said that Nepal had suggested that verification of the Bhutanese refugees should be made on the basis of the head of the families while Bhutan had not made its views clear in this regard.

The minister made it clear that no secret understanding had been reached with India in connection with Indian army personnel providing security at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

Talks were held through the diplomatic channel with the government of China and authorities in Hong Kong for abolishing the visa system for the Nepalese entering the Hong Kong, Mr Bastola said, adding that as a result of the Nepalese government’s efforts the Nepalese crew members do not require visa for one week.

In response to a question, Mr Bastola said that HMG was not officially aware of the presence of Indian army personnel at Kalapani.

MPs Som Prasad Pandey, Prakash Jwala, Prakash Bahadur Gurung, Nara Bahadur Hamal and Shiva Raj Joshi had posed questions to Mr Bastola.