Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has unintentionally landed in the middle of a diplomatic firestorm after his recent comments about Balochistan during an event in Riyadh triggered a wave of outrage across Pakistan.
Salman has reportedly been placed under the Fourth Schedule of Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism Act (1997), a list typically reserved for people with suspected ties to terrorism, a controversy that started with an apparently innocuous comment about the multicultural appeal of Indian cinema.
The actor was classified as "Azad Balochistan Facilitator" by the Government of Balochistan in a notification dated October 16, 2025 (which has not yet been independently confirmed).
Salman may be subject to asset freezes, travel bans, and surveillance in Pakistan as a result of the alleged inclusion—a severe reaction to what most people consider to be a casual remark.
What Exactly Did Salman Khan Say?
At the Joy Forum 2025 in Riyadh, where Salman appeared alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, the trio spoke about the growing reach of Indian cinema in the Middle East.
While reflecting on how audiences from different nationalities have embraced Bollywood, Salman remarked:
“Right now, if you make a Hindi film and release it here (in Saudi Arabia), it will be a superhit. If you make a Tamil, Telugu, or Malayali film, it will do hundreds of crores in business because so many people from other countries have come here. There are people from Balochistan, there are people from Afghanistan, there are people from Pakistan… everyone is working here."
Officials reportedly saw the separate mention of Balochistan and Pakistan as questioning the country’s territorial integrity — a politically explosive topic given the province’s history of separatist movements.
Also Read: Salman Khan declared as terrorist by Pakistan over his Balochistan comment at Joy Forum 2025
Interestingly, Salman’s comment has been warmly received by Baloch nationalist leaders, who see it as a rare gesture of recognition. Mir Yar Baloch, a leading advocate for Baloch independence, said:
“Salman Khan’s words have brought happiness to six crore Baloch people. By recognising Balochistan as distinct, Salman Khan has done what many nations hesitate to do. It’s a powerful act of soft diplomacy that strengthens the global awareness of our identity.”
Salman hasn't commented publicly on the controversy.
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