Dalai Lama in India's northeast on way to disputed region as China fumes over trip
The Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, has arrived in India's northeastern state of Assam ahead of a visit to neighboring Arunachal Pradesh, a region run by New Delhi but claimed by Beijing.
The Tibetan spiritual leader's trip is expected to fuel tensions between India and China over strategic issues such as China's growing ties with India's arch-rival Pakistan. China claims the region in the eastern Himalayas as "South Tibet."
The Dalai Lama told Reuters at the airport in the Assam city of Guwahati that his visit was to promote religious harmony.
He said he was happy to be back in a region that revived his memories of escape from Tibet in 1959, after a failed uprising against Chinese rule.
"I still feel the feeling of that time," he said.
China, which considers the Dalai Lama the leader of the secessionists pursuing independence for Tibet, said on Friday it was "resolutely opposed" to the visit, and urged India to "avoid taking any actions that would further complicate the border issue."
An Indian government official said on Friday that the Dalai Lama's visit was religious not political.
(Source: Reuters)
Tension flares in India after Modi's anti-Muslim hate speech amid elections
Voters begin casting ballots in weeks-long election in India
India’s top court puts on hold order outlawing Islamic schools
200 days of Israeli war on Gaza and 200 headlines whitewashing genocide
Iran’s security chief in Russia to underline Israel’s aggression
VIDEO | Smoke rises from Gaza as fighting continues
ICRC decries escalating Israeli raids across occupied West Bank
Israel still prevents food convoys from reaching north of Gaza: UNRWA
NYPD arrests multitude of pro-Palestine students at NYU campus
Iran’s decisive response to Israel disrupted enemy’s equations: Hamas
Iran releases details of confiscated Israeli transit cargo
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
