Since its independence in 1947, India has sought to maintain strong ties with Saudi Arabia, an important regional power and trading base in West Asia. In a major visit by King Saud of Saudi Arabia to India in November 1955,[9][10][11] both nations agreed to shape their relationship based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence.[12] Saudi Arabia is also home to more than 1.4 million Indian workers.[13] India was the only South Asian nation to recognise the Soviet-backed Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, whereas Saudi Arabia was one of the key supporters of the Afghan mujahideen, who fought the Soviets and their Afghan allies from Pakistan.[12][14]