[affozyBoomi]

Dr APJ Abdul kalam said that India was forced to go nuclear and develop ballistic missiles to strike a balance of power in the region as 'big nations' around the country were armed with atomic weapons.

'You see, big nations around India have had their nuclear weapons at that time, and it was important for India to develop ballistic missiles to make a balance...it also did not cost high,' 'missile-man' Kalam told PTI news agency on the sidelines of a regional conference in Dhaka, capita of Bangladesh, without naming the countries.

Asked if he had any guilty feeling for his pivotal role in India's nuclear programme as he now spearheads campaigns for regional peace, the former President said he had no guilty feeling for his work as it appeared crucial for his country for ensuring 'balance of power' at that time. He said India had to spend 'little' in the development of nuclear-capable missiles named Agni and Prithvi and the question of fund diversion from poverty alleviation to militarisation was not fully authentic. 'The Indian missiles would (also) never be used first unless it was attacked,' Kalam said.

He said that despite differences between countries in the region, he expected South Asia to emerge as an integrated region like the European Union within next 10 years. 'I think South Asia will emerge as an integrated region within next 10 years discarding their rivalry following footsteps of the EU and ASEAN nations,' he said. Kalam referred to the integrity of the European nations which they developed despite their centuries-long enmity.