Bollywood icon Salman Khan is facing an unprecedented diplomatic backlash after remarks made at the Joy Forum 2025 in Riyadh. During the event, he commented on the global reach of Indian cinema, saying: “There are people from Balochistan, there are people from Afghanistan, there are people from Pakistan… everyone is working here.”
While Pakistani officials have condemned the actor’s remarks as an attack on their territorial integrity, several Baloch activists praised the Sikandar for acknowledging their region separately, calling it a symbolic act of recognition. Indian netizens and Bollywood insiders, however, have largely dismissed Pakistan’s response as an overreaction.
Pakistan Labels Salman Khan A ‘Terrorist’
The separate mention of Balochistan and Pakistan triggered a furious response from Islamabad. Pakistani authorities have reportedly placed Salman Khan under the Fourth Schedule of the country’s Anti‑Terrorism Act 1997, a classification used for individuals considered under close watch for state-security threats.
The province of Balochistan has been a long-standing flash-point in Pakistan’s internal security narrative, with separatist movements and insurgency challenging Islamabad’s control and territorial integrity. Analysts say any suggestion of Balochistan being distinct from Pakistan is seen by Pakistani officials as a major affront.
In this case, the home department of Balochistan reportedly referred to Salman Khan as an “Azad Balochistan facilitator,” implying his comments supported separatist sentiments.
Implications for Bollywood and Salman Khan
For the Indian film industry, the development is a cautionary moment. What may have been a benign reference to cinema’s multicultural audience has escalated into a diplomatic incident, underscoring how cultural remarks can carry geopolitical weight.
For Salman Khan, the “terrorist” label is likely to have limited direct professional impact within India. However, it could complicate his standing in Pakistan and with regional distributors. It also raises questions about how Indian cinema figures navigate politically charged statements in international forums.
At present, Salman Khan has not issued a public statement addressing it. Neither has the Indian government officially responded. The situation is still evolving, and the actor’s team may soon weigh in.
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