Former Indian Foreign Secretary, Amb Kanwal Sibal speaking to members of Tibetan parliament and officials of Central Tibetan Administration, along with Deputy Speaker of Tibetan parliament Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok(R) and Director of Tibet Policy Institute Thubten Samphel(L), at DIIR Lhakpa Tsering hall, 23 March 2017

Dharamshala: “His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s agenda accepts Tibet to be part of China but that Tibet must have genuine self rule and respect for Tibetan autonomy, which is a legitimate demand,” Former Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal said yesterday, in an interaction with members of Tibetan parliament and officials of Central Tibetan Administration.
“If you have Chinese military positioned in Tibet the way it is, how can Tibet be autonomous,” the Ambassador said, arguing that the large scale Chinese military presence in Tibet is contradictory to its claims of Tibet being an autonomous region.
In the rare discussion, the former Indian Foreign Secretary shed light on important advances that India could make in terms of its policy towards resolving the Tibetan issue. “One, India should begin saying that it had recognised Tibet as autonomous region of China not as military occupied region of China. Let this distinction be made slowly.
“Two, we should tell the Chinese leadership that they have responsibility in the interest of India china relation and in context of the other things, that they must resolve the Tibetan issue in accordance with the wishes of the Tibetan people.”
Vouching for a peaceful dialogue on the Tibetan issue, the Ambassador called upon the Chinese leadership to resolve the long-standing issue of Tibet, responsibly through peaceful dialogue.
“The Tibetan people want a resolution through a process of non-violence peaceful negotiation. It is such a rich culture, which needs to be preserved. Then there are issues of environment. If Tibetan ecology is disturbed it can have serious repercussion. They must have a peaceful dialogue and resolve this issue in a peaceful responsible manner. “
Speaking on the recent developments on India-China relations, the Ambassador said, “There is sharpening in some respect of our relationship with China. China has begun to be openly antagonist towards India in three areas: its “so-called claims on India”; the China Pakistan Economic Corridor; China’s opposition to designation of Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as global terrorist and India’s membership in NSG.
On Tawang, the Dr Sabil said, “The reason China wants Tawang tracts is because it is through Tawang that His Holiness the Dalai Lama entered India in 1959. It is absolutely key to the Indian defenses in the East.”
Kanwal Sibal is a distinguished career diplomat who retired as Foreign Secretary to the Government of India. His visit to Dharamshala was facilitated by the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. The Ambassador along with his wife Elisabeth Sibal and sister Asha Nanda visited the Tibetan parliament yesterday to watch the ongoing proceedings of the parliament session. Earlier today, the Ambassador received an audience with the Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Members of audience, including Tibetan parliamentarians and officials of CTA listening to the talk, 23 March 2017.