Islamabad, Nov 25 (IANS): Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has expressed hope that the good relations with India would soon been normalised and the 18th Saarc summit may facilitate reducing existing tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi.

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) organisation comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

The theme of the 18th Saarc summit, to be held in Nepal Nov 26-27, is "Deeper Integration for Peace and Prosperity".

Stating peace in Pakistan and Afghanistan was necessary for prevalence of peace in the whole region, the Pakistan defence minister said without stopping foreign interference in Afghanistan there could be no peace, Geo News reported Tuesday.

He also said Pakistan was hopeful that good relations with India would be restored soon.

Stating that the situation has turned bad because of a super power, the minister said the problems of the region should be dealt within the region.

He blamed the current situation of the region on the failed foreign policy of the US, saying that Daish (the Arabic name for the group Islamic State) was created to fight against the Syrian government and now the region was suffering because of America’s failed foreign policy.