Indian police dragged away a group of Tibetan exiles as they demonstrated Thursday in New Delhi outside a meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and his Indian counterpart.

The protesters were demanding that China withdraw from the disputed Himalayan region, where India has back its claim with a troop presence for more than five decades. More than 20 Buddhist monks and nuns have set themselves on fire in recent months, protesting harsh Chinese rule and calling for the return of the Dalai Lama.

The Tibetan spiritual leader has lived in Dharamsala, India, since fleeing his homeland after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959. His presence in India upsets Beijing, which is also at odds with New Delhi over the northeastern Indian region of Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as its territory.

China was angered by a recent visit to the region by Indian Defense Minister A.K. Antony.

Yang Jiechi is in New Delhi for talks with Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna. The two delegations will discuss the summit of BRICS nations later this month in New Delhi, which will bring together the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.