Muslim clerics appeal for peace, say 'world is looking at Kashmir'

New Delhi: Maulana Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, who led a delegation of Imams to meet Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh here today on the continued protest and violence in the valley, appealed to his Muslim brothers in Kashmir to restore peace and solve the issue through dialogue. "Whether Muslims of Kashmir or Arunachal or any part of India, the basic fact is that before anything else we are all Indians. Kashmir is our part and Kashmiris are our brothers, if they have any problem we are with them. We appeal to them that peace should be restored and the situation should improve because the whole world is looking at Kashmir," Ilyasi told the media after the meeting. "We always talk about Kashmir and not Kashmiris. They are our brothers, they are the part of India, they are also with us and we want our brothers to restore peace and solve the issue through dialogue," he added. Responding to a poser that the Kashmiri people are supporting terrorism, Ilyasi said: "We are against all sorts of violence and terrorism. We strongly condemn tyranny and terrorism in all its form and anywhere." He said the Home Minister gave them a patient hearing during the meeting and assured them that the situation in the valley would normalise and the condition will improve. "We want peace to be restored and environment improves. I will also appeal to the Mehbooba government that peace should be restored," he said. The situation in Jammu and Kashmir continues to remain tense as violent clashes and protests continued after the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani and his two associates on Friday. The police authorities have put the civilian deaths at 22 during various incidents across Kashmir. One cop was also killed. Over 250 injured persons are undergoing treatment at various hospitals in the Valley.