Personal chemistry helps in diplomacy. Recalling his years as foreign minister , S.M. Krishna Saturday said he forged a “good understanding” with his Pakistani and Chinese counterparts, Hina Rabbani Khar and Yang Jiechi respectively, which helped him to improve India’s relations with these countries.

“I had a good understanding with Hina Rabbai Khar and Yang Jiechi,” Krishna told reporters here to queries whether he forged personal relationships with world leaders and foreign ministers of other countries during his stint as foreign minister.

When Krishna became the foreign  minister in May 2009, India’s relations with Pakistan had plummeted to a new low following the 26/11 attacks and the dialogue process with Pakistan was frozen.

A year later, Krishna went to Islamabad with a view to resuming the peace process, but aggressive posturing by the then Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi led to the collapse of the talks. Qureshi was replaced. The relations showed signs of improving after Khar became foreign minister in July last year and made her first visit to India.

Although Krishna is more than three  decades senior to Khar, Pakistan’s youngest foreign minister, the two had a mutual regard and developed a rapport over the next few months, informed sources said.