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Salman Khan’s comment mentioning “Balochistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan” at a Riyadh event has gone viral, sparking online debate and mixed reactions.
Salman Khan’s Balochistan remark at Riyadh event sparks online debate.
Salman Khan’s recent appearance at the Joy Forum 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has stirred up quite a buzz online — not for his films this time, but for a single remark that social media can’t stop discussing. A video from the event has gone viral, showing the actor mentioning “Balochistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan” in a way that many users claim appeared to separate the region from Pakistan.
The moment came as Salman spoke about the global appeal of Indian cinema and the growing presence of South Asian communities in the Middle East.
The viral clip that started it all
In the video, Salman says, “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, which quickly spread across X (formerly Twitter), has since sparked widespread debate over whether the actor’s phrasing was intentional or simply a slip of the tongue.
I don’t know if it was slip of tongue, but this is amazing! Salman Khan separates “people of Balochistan” from “people of Pakistan” . pic.twitter.com/dFNKOBKoEz— Smita Prakash (@smitaprakash) October 19, 2025
Fans react with mixed views
While many praised Salman’s comment as a show of awareness about regional identities, others questioned his intent. One post read, “When @BeingSalmanKhan said ‘Balochistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan…’ — it speaks volumes. Balochistan is not a Pakistani province — it’s a nation. Baloch is our identity & our state.”
Another user wrote, “Salman Khan Acknowledges Balochistan is not a part of Pakistan🤣 He said ‘Everyone is working in Saudi Arabia… There are people from Balochistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan.’”
A third post added, “Salman Khan just casually dropped a geopolitical bomb! By separating Balochistan from Pakistan in his statement, he’s highlighting a fact many overlook — Balochistan’s distinct identity and struggles.”
Another wondered if it was a slip of tongue. “Big moment at the event . Salman Khan mentioned the people of Balochistan separately from Pakistan. Slip of the tongue or spark of truth, who knows?”
No response yet from Salman Khan
Salman, who shared the stage with Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan at the event, has not issued any statement about the viral remark so far.
Balochistan is a sensitive region in South Asia. Some groups there have long sought greater autonomy, alleging they face political and economic neglect. Pakistan maintains that Balochistan is an important part of the country and says separatist groups get help from abroad.
Shreyanka Mazumdar is Chief Sub Editor of the entertainment team at News18. With an unbridled passion for all things Bollywood, she loves deep-diving into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment world, bring…Read More
Shreyanka Mazumdar is Chief Sub Editor of the entertainment team at News18. With an unbridled passion for all things Bollywood, she loves deep-diving into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment world, bring… Read More
October 20, 2025, 09:52 IST
