Accepting China's sovereign right over Tibet, spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has said that demilitarisation of the region was just 'his dream' and not a pre-condition for talks with Beijing.

The Dalai Lama also said the 'over-cautious' attitude of the Indian government towards Tibetan protestors during the visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao last year had created 'resentment with Tibetans.'

In an interview to Karan Thapar for the Devil's Advocate programme telecast on CNN-IBN, the spiritual leader called for a 'time-to-time' review of India's Tibet policy.

"Yes," the Dalai Lama replied when asked whether he had completely accepted Chinese sovereignty over Tibet.

"I think they (the Chinese) did not carefully read my statement in the 1980s. My meaning (was that) eventually with agreement with India and other neighbouring states, Tibet hopefully should be a zone of peace, demilitarised. That is just my dream," he said.

He replied in the negative when asked whether this was his condition for talks with China. The Dalai Lama dimissed Chinese claims of having given autonomy to Tibet.

"At the moment, (there is) rule of terror. That is a reality," he said.

He said his demand for incorporating all Tibetan-speaking people within an enlarged Tibet was for preserving their culture.

"In today's reality, the danger of diminishing our culture, our own language, faces all parts of Tibet. So all six million Tibetans are very anxious to preserve their own culture and spirituality," he said.

The Dalai Lama said Tibetans were not seeking independence or separation from China, but want certain rights within the concept of autonomy or self-rule.

"Now the whole world knows I am not seeking independence. Tibet is a backward country, economically, materially, therefore for our own interest as far as material development is concerned we want to remain within the People's Republic of China," he said.

Putting forth his demand for 'real autonomy,' the leader said: "Tibetans should have the final authority, except (in) foreign affairs and defence. The rest of the business Tibetans can handle even better because they know Tibetan mentality, Tibet's geographical situation.

"At present on paper there is autonomy but in reality every key position is occupied by Chinese who have no idea of past events, of Tibetan culture or Tibetan habits or mentality," he said.

On the efforts to prevent protests by Tibetans during the Hu's visit last year, the Dalai Lama said: "Usually, I say the government of India's attitude or policy regarding China in general and particularly regarding the Tibet issue is over-cautious. But sometimes, certain attitudes create more resentment with Tibetans."

He said India's policy on Tibet has been in existence since the early 1950s and as a government it is difficult to change. "But I think it is very important to review (the policy) from time to time. That's important," he said.

The Dalai Lama said he was 'an optimist' about seeing Tibet again, which he has not visited since he fled to India in 1959, but would not die an unhappy man if he did not go there again.