Salman Khan Sparks Controversy by Mentioning Balochistan and Pakistan Separately in International Forum Speech

Salman Khan was discussing the expanding worldwide influence of Indian cinema during his speech at the Joy Forum 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan recently created a social media sensation when he distinctly mentioned Balochistan and Pakistan as separate entities while discussing expatriate communities working in the Middle East. The actor made these comments at the Joy Forum 2025 in Riyadh, which was also attended by fellow Bollywood icons Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan.

Historically, Balochistan has faced numerous insurgency movements, which the Pakistani government has consistently portrayed as merely the discontent of a few tribal leaders in the province.

In the footage that has since gone viral online, Khan was heard discussing the growing international popularity of Indian cinema among South Asian communities residing in the Middle East.

He stated, "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."

The clip quickly gained traction on social media platforms, with users debating whether Khan's specific phrasing was deliberate or simply a verbal misstep.

Journalist Smita Prakash shared the clip on X (formerly Twitter), commenting, "I don't know if it was slip of tongue, but this is amazing! Salman Khan separates 'people of Balochistan' from 'people of Pakistan'."

Another user on X questioned, "Slip of tongue from Salman Khan or lack of knowledge or deliberate hint that Balochistan is 'independent'? That too with Aamir Khan & SRK on dias?"

Despite the controversy, many social media users defended the actor, suggesting his comment demonstrated awareness of complex regional identities.

X user Jasmin Ahmed wrote, "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."

Another X user, Jabir Baloch, stated, "Even Salman Khan admitted that Balochistan is a separate country."

Some supporters argued that the remark was likely unintentional and should not be over-analyzed, with one user commenting, "We really shouldn't expect geopolitical precision from Bollywood."

As of now, neither Salman Khan nor his representatives have issued any statement clarifying the matter.

Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province, represents a crucial checkpoint in the "China-Pakistan Economic Corridor" with Gwadar port situated near the Gulf of Oman. The region supplies 40% of Pakistan's gas production. Despite its strategic importance, Balochistan has been largely neglected by Pakistan's central leadership, fueling an independence movement that began when it became part of Pakistan in 1948.

The Baloch region is divided into three sections: the northern part belongs to present-day Afghanistan, the western region (called Sistan-Baluchistan) is located in Iran, and the remainder falls within Pakistan's borders.

The Baluchi people believe they were colonized or annexed by Pakistan during Partition and consider themselves ethnically distinct from the dominant Punjabis and Sindhis who have historically controlled Pakistani politics. This situation has contributed to Balochistan's ongoing volatility, with insurgents targeting Pakistani forces and foreign investments, including projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.