A Tibetian soldier, Nyima Tenzin, died fighting for India over the weekend in India’s standoff with China. The death has put India’s Special Frontier Force (SFF) a little known outfit of high-altitude specialists, many of them of Tibetan origin, in the spotlight. Writer and activist, Tibetan Tenzin Tsundue, now in Dharamshala, seat of the self-proclaimed Tibetan government, says the capture of Black Top Hill has brought some awareness about the SFF.

Tsundue speaks about the SFF, India’s relationship with China, and Tibetans here. Excerpts from an interview.