Salman Khan's 'Balochistan and Pakistan' remark at Saudi event kicks up online debate

Salman Khan mentioned Pakistan and Balochistan separately while speaking at an event in Saudi Arabia recently.

Published on: Oct 20, 2025, 13:44:23 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Bollywood actor Salman Khan stirred up an online debate after he mentioned Balochistan and Pakistan separately while speaking at the Joy Forum 2025 in Saudi Arabia's Riyadh which he attended alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Amir Khan between October 16 and 17.

Bollywood actor Salman Khan. (sunil khandare)

Salman Khan was speaking about the mass appeal of Indian movies abroad.

“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,” he said while referring to South Asian living in Middle East.

Though it is not clear if Salman Khan deliberately mentioned Balochistan separately or it was a slip up, social media is filled with reactions some thanking him, other wondering if he meant what he said.

“Salman Khan Mentions “Balochistan” Seprates from Pakistan because he knows Balochistan is a Different country,” wrote an X user.

Another took to X and said, "Even Bollywood superstar @BeingSalmanKhan knows that Balochistan is The land of ancestors, the al balushi people."

Conflict in Balochistan

Balochistan is a mineral-rich province located in the southwestern region of Pakistan, bordered by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh and also shares international border with with Iran to the west and Afghanistan to the north.

While the conflict in Balochistan dates back to the 1947 partition, the sentiment of autonomy and liberation from Pakistan was renewed following the formation of Bangladesh in 1970s. Human rights violations, resource exploitation and political marginalisation.

About 10,000 Baloch have disappeared in Pakistan since 2011, according to Amnesty International data.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.