Salman Khan is once again facing backlash, this time around from the Pakistani government, over his recent remark on Balochistan. According to reports, following his comment, the Pakistan government has listed him as a terrorist under Schedule 4 of its 1997 Anti-Terrorism Act.
What did Salman Khan say?
The development comes after Salman’s recent appearance at the Joy Forum 2025 in Riyadh. At the event, he was seen along with Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, wherein they spoke about the growing appeal of Indian cinema in the Middle East. During the conversation, Salman allegedly mentioned Balochistan and Pakistan separately.
Salman reportedly 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.”
Salman Khan declared terrorist by Pakistan
Reports claim that the actor has been labelled a terrorist and placed under the 4th Schedule of Pakistan’s 1997 Anti-Terrorism Act. The schedule serves as a blacklist for individuals suspected of terror links, which includes strict surveillance, movement restrictions, and potential legal action.
Notably, Salman Khan’s remark has enraged the Pakistani government. On the other hand, Baloch separatist leaders have welcomed his statement. Mir Yar Baloch, a prominent name in Baloch independence, has expressed gratitude, noting that Salman’s mention had brought pleasure to six crore Baloch people. He even praised the actor for doing what many nations are hesitant to do. He called his act a powerful one of soft diplomacy that highlights global recognition of Balochistan as a separate nation.
For the unversed, Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest province by area, that is 46% of the country houses only 6% of the country`s population (around 1.5 crore). There has been unrest in the region due to systemic discrimination and economic neglect. Despite being prosperous in mineral resources, Balochistan continues to be Pakistan’s most underdeveloped region, with around 70% of its people living below the poverty line.
