‘An honour to meet His Holiness’: Top US official visits Dalai Lama in Dharamshala; joins 90th birthday celebrations

A senior official from the United States met the 14th Dalai Lama in Dharamshala on the occasion of his 90th birthday, the US Embassy said on Sunday.Bethany Poulos Morrison, a deputy assistant secretary in the US department of state’s bureau of south and central Asian affairs (SCA), visited the Tibetan spiritual leader as part of her ongoing trip to India.In a post on X, the US Embassy shared images from the meeting and wrote, “State SCA deputy assistant secretary Morrison had the honor of visiting Dharamshala and meeting with His Holiness Dalai Lama during his 90th birthday celebration. Yesterday, secretary Rubio shared birthday wishes and reaffirmed US support for fundamental freedom of Tibetans.”Thousands of people gathered in the main courtyard of Tsuglagkhang, the Dalai Lama temple in Himachal Pradesh’s Dharamshala, to mark the milestone birthday. Messages of goodwill poured in from around the world for the Nobel Peace Prize laureate.Indian and international political leaders joined the Dalai Lama on stage, voicing support for the Buddhist spiritual leader, who has lived in exile in India since fleeing Tibet in the 1960s following China’s occupation of the region.Morrison arrived in India a few days prior to the event. On Thursday, the US Embassy posted on X, “Welcome to India, State SCA deputy assistant secretary Morrison. We look forward to a productive and engaging trip as we continue to advance the US-India Strategic Partnership. #USIndiaFWD”.The bureau of south and central Asian affairs, where Morrison serves, handles US foreign policy and diplomatic relations with countries across the region, including India, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Nepal, and others, according to the US department of state.Morrison is the deputy assistant secretary overseeing matters related to India and Bhutan.