India and the United States on Monday urged China and the Dalai Lama to hold peaceful negotiations between them to resolve the pro-independence unrest in Tibet with Washington insisting that dialogue was the “only” policy that is sustainable in the Himalayan region.

“We have expressed our concern... about the latest developments. We do hope it will be possible to resolve the issue through peaceful dialogue between the parties concerned,” External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters at a joint press conference after holding wide ranging talks with United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice here.

Rice, who was more forthcoming on the vexed Tibet issue, urged China to initiate dialogue with the Dalai Lama as it was the “only policy that is sustainable in Tibet.”