Salman Khan sparks debate after referring to Balochistan, Pakistan at Riyadh Forum

The remark came during the Joy Forum 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he appeared alongside fellow Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan.

In a now-viral clip, Salman Khan was seen discussing the growing global appeal of Indian cinema in Gulf countries. He said:

“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 statement sparked debate online, as Khan’s phrasing appeared to treat Balochistan as distinct from Pakistan, a sensitive topic given the region’s long-standing separatist tensions.

Social Media Reaction

The clip drew widespread attention on social media, with users debating whether the phrasing was intentional or a slip of the tongue.

Journalist Smita Prakash shared the video on X, writing: “I don’t know if it was a slip of tongue, but this is amazing! Salman Khan separates ‘people of Balochistan’ from ‘people of Pakistan’.”

Another user questioned, “Slip of tongue from Salman Khan or deliberate hint that Balochistan is ‘independent’? That too with Aamir Khan & SRK on stage?”

While some speculated about political undertones, others defended the actor, saying he merely acknowledged regional identities.

“When @BeingSalmanKhan said ‘Balochistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan…’ — it speaks volumes. Balochistan is not a Pakistani province — it’s a nation,” wrote user Jasmin Ahmed.

Others dismissed the controversy, arguing it was being over-analysed.

“We really shouldn’t expect geopolitical precision from Bollywood,” one user wrote.

As of now, Salman Khan and his team have not issued any clarification.

Balochistan Conflict

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest and resource-rich province, has been a hotspot of insurgent activity for decades.

The region is key to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), housing the strategic Gwadar Port near the Gulf of Oman.

Despite its significance — contributing nearly 40% of Pakistan’s gas output — the province has long complained of political and economic neglect.

Ethnic Baloch nationalists claim they were annexed by Pakistan in 1948 and have since been marginalized by dominant Punjabi and Sindhi elites.

Geographically, the Baloch region spans three countries — western Balochistan in Iran (Sistan-Baluchistan), northern parts in Afghanistan, and the remaining area within Pakistan.
The ongoing insurgency continues to target Pakistani forces and foreign interests, particularly Chinese projects under CPEC.