Renowned Bollywood megastar Salman Khan has ignited an online debate across social media after referring to Balochistan and Pakistan as separate entities during a recent media interaction in Saudi Arabia.
The statement, made while addressing fans and journalists during his ongoing tour with Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, has drawn widespread criticism from Pakistani users online.
Salman Khan, along with fellow superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, is currently on a tour of Saudi Arabia, where the trio has been hosting a series of meet-and-greet sessions and fan interactions.
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The actors have been responding to questions from hosts, engaging with their fans, and sharing stories about their careers and personal journeys.
The event has attracted large crowds, reflecting the popularity of Bollywood cinema across the Arab world, where all three Khans enjoy a dedicated following.
What’s the controversy?
In one of his interactions with the Saudi Arabian media, Salman Khan sparked an unexpected controversy when he said, “So many people come here (to Saudi Arabia) from our places, including Balochistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.”
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The statement caught attention not only because Salman did not mention India but also because he referred to Balochistan separately from Pakistan, a phrasing that many Pakistanis perceived as politically loaded.
Salman Khan faces criticism
Salman’s comments quickly went viral on social media platforms, especially X (formerly Twitter), where many Pakistanis criticized him for what they saw as a deliberate attempt to misrepresent Pakistan’s territorial unity.
One user wrote, “He might be saying this only to confirm his loyalty towards India. Like all other Muslim actors, to live in India peacefully, they need to show that they are religiously secular and politically against Pakistan.”
Another user commented sarcastically, “Balochistan? Exactly the same way he has fans globally — in Khalistan, Hindustan, and Afghanistan.”
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Several users accused him of making the remark intentionally. “He knew exactly what he was saying,” one netizen said, while another remarked, “This is what happens when you can be a Bollywood star but still be uneducated.”
Some even connected the comment to broader political narratives, with one saying, “They have the pain of Khalistan, which made them speak like this.” Another user bluntly stated, “The reason for his flop movies is this mentality. Sick.”
