Bollywood actor Salman Khan has created a huge controversy after his recent comments regarding Balochistan, which have been claimed to have caused widespread anger in Pakistan.
The Pakistani government, reportedly, has put Salman on the 4th Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act (1997), an ordinarly reserved list for people suspected of having terrorist links. Being listed on the 4 Schedule has serious implications, including increased surveillance, travel bans, and possible legal proceedings.
The move comes after comments Salman made at the Joy Forum 2025 in Riyadh, where he also attended with Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan to talk about increasing Indian cinema popularity in the Middle East.
Salman commented: "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."
As per reports, officials in Islamabad were angered by the comment, interpreting the separate mention of Balochistan and Pakistan as a challenge to the country’s territorial integrity.
On the other hand, Salman’s comment has drawn praise from Baloch separatist leaders. They are viewing it as an acknowledgment of their struggles. Mir Yar Baloch, a prominent advocate for Baloch independence, stated that Salman’s words had "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."
The context of Balochistan adds weight to the controversy. Although Pakistan’s largest province by land area, Balochistan is home to only 6 per cent of the country’s population. The region, despite its natural resource wealth, remains economically underdeveloped, with nearly 70 pc of residents living below the poverty line.
Salman Khan has not yet released an official statement addressing the backlash. On the work front, he was last seen in Sikandar and is currently working on Battle of Galwan, slated for release next year.
Also read: Salman Khan unveils raw first look from 'Battle of Galwan'
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