Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has ignited a social media firestorm after comments made at Saudi Arabia’s high-profile “Joy Forum 2025” event. Sharing the stage in Riyadh with fellow actors Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, Salman was discussing the global popularity of Indian cinema amid the region’s diverse expatriate communities. In the viral clip, Salman said: “There are people from Balochistan, there are people from Afghanistan, there are people from Pakistan… everyone is working here.”
The Comment That Started it All
While listing communities with roots in South Asia and neighboring countries, Salman Khan’s phrasing appeared to distinguish Balochistan from Pakistan. This subtle separation immediately caught the internet’s attention, with users debating whether it was a slip of the tongue or a deliberate political reference to the region’s long-standing autonomy movement and complex history.
Social Media Reactions: Slip, Statement, or Ignorance?
Prominent journalists, fan accounts, and political commentators weighed in. Some speculated that the actor’s words were a meaningful nod to Baloch identity and calls for independence, with one user writing, “When @BeingSalmanKhan said ‘Balochistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan’ — it speaks volumes. Balochistan is not a Pakistani province — it’s a nation. Baloch is our identity and our state.” Others suggested it may simply have been an innocent slip or a lack of geopolitical precision.
Salman Khan Acknowledges Balochistan is not a part of Pakistan🤣
— The Jaipur Dialogues (@JaipurDialogues) October 19, 2025
He said “Everyone is working in Saudi Arabia.. There are people from Balochistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan”
pic.twitter.com/G4my8wp781
Pakistani social media in particular erupted in criticism, accusing Salman of promoting a separatist narrative. Meanwhile, several members of the Baloch diaspora celebrated the comments as validation of their distinct regional identity. Defenders of Salman argued that reading deep political intent into the remark was unnecessary, given that Bollywood celebrities are not known for diplomatic language.
No Official Clarification
As of this report, neither Salman Khan nor his team have issued any clarification about the viral remark. The debate shows no sign of subsiding, with the video continuing to trend on South Asian social platforms, and commentators arguing over the actor’s awareness and intent.
The Balochistan Factor
Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest province, but it is also a region with a unique identity and a history of calls for autonomy or independence. The territory’s complex geopolitics and ongoing insurgency have often thrust it into news headlines, and statements about its status—intentional or not—often evoke strong reactions among both Pakistani nationalists and Baloch activists.
Salman Khan’s offhand remark, made before a global audience, has reignited debate around Balochistan’s identity—demonstrating how a few words from an entertainer can unexpectedly shape international and political discussion.