A decision on Kashmir will be taken by the Centre after tomorrow's all-party meeting convened by prime minister Manmohan Singh, defence minister A K Antony said today.

"Important decisions have to be taken after carefully assessing all aspects. Yesterday's Cabinet Committee on Security had a very long meeting. Ultimately we thought before we take a final decision, we will take into confidence all the major parties so that everybody is involved," he told reporters.

"Don't worry, we will take a decision. Tomorrow is the all-party meeting. After that, we will take a decision," the Minister said when asked why the CCS was unable to take a decision yesterday on issues, including withdrawal of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from some parts of Jammu and Kashmir.

About yesterday's violence in the Valley after reports of desecration of Quran, Antony said, "We are pained about developments yesterday. As we all know, the situation is very serious. We have to handle the situation carefully."

He appealed to all sides to show restraint.

Noting that religious passions were "rising high" throughout the world, Antony said, "It is the responsibility of all major groups to restrain their irresponsible elements."

IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal P V Naik, when asked about his opinion on the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), said a soldier, while involved in performing his duty, "deserves all the legal protection" that he could get.

"I am sure the government is sensitised to this problem and whatever decision they will take I am sure it will be the correct one," Naik added.

Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar remained evasive on the issue of withdrawal of AFSPA from some parts of Jammu and Kashmir, saying he hoped that the government would take the right decision.

He said the Cabinet would take a decision on the issue. "The decision on AFSPA will be taken by the Central government. It is a pretty high level discussion and I hope the government will take a right decision," he told reporters on the sidelines of another function here.

"The cabinet will decide on it and I should not make any comment on the matter," he said.

As Kashmir witnessed a sudden flare-up in violence, the CCS had yesterday put off any decision on contentious issues like AFSPA and called an all-party meeting tomorrow to discuss the volatile situation.