Many viewers questioned whether it was a simple slip of the tongue. Some called it a lack of knowledge. And, some called it an intentional reference to Balochistan’s distinct identity.
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Salman Khan and his Balochistan-Pakistan comment: Bollywood superstar Salman Khan made headlines during the Joy Forum 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In the event, he spoke about South Asian communities living and working in the Middle East. Sharing the stage with Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, Salman highlighted the growing popularity of Indian films in the region and the diverse audience supporting them.
“Right now, if you make a Hindi film and release it here, it will be a superhit,” Salman said. “If you make a Tamil, Telugu, or Malayalam film, it will make hundreds of crores because so many people from other countries are here. There are people from Balochistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan… everyone is working here.”
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Finally @BeingSalmanKhan acknowledged Balochistan is not Part of Pakistan ✌️❤️
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Salam Khan said “ People of Balochistan, Afghanistan , Pakistan & everywhere”@BDUTT #Balochistan #Baloch pic.x.com/TgdqrZhzr6
— Bilal Baloch (@bbfr74) October 18, 2025
While his remarks were meant to celebrate the reach of Indian cinema abroad, one part of his statement quickly caught the public’s attention: his separate mention of Balochistan apart from Pakistan.
The clip of Salman’s speech quickly circulated online. Needless to say, it sparked lively discussions. Many viewers questioned whether it was a simple slip of the tongue. Some called it a lack of knowledge. And, some called it an intentional reference to Balochistan’s distinct identity.
There were people who saw it as a factual error while others interpreted it as recognition of a long-standing cultural and political debate.
Fans and commentators debated the meaning behind his words noting that it was unusual to single out a province separately while speaking about nationalities.
Several social media users came to Salman’s defense. They suggested that his mention of Balochistan reflected awareness of its unique identity rather than ignorance. Balochistan has a complex history that has seen unrest and calls for greater autonomy.
The Pakistani government often frames these movements as tribal insurgencies. But many locals continue to view themselves as culturally distinct from other ethnic groups in Pakistan.
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