Indian superstar Salman Khan ignited a diplomatic controversy during his recent appearance at the ‘Joy Forum 2025’ in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. His remarks concerning the South Asian workforce in the Middle East reportedly drew a strong reaction from Pakistan.
The high-profile event, which also hosted fellow Indian actors Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, highlighted the increasing popularity of Indian cinema across the Middle East.
During his address, Khan stated, “These are people from Balochistan, people from Afghanistan, people from Pakistan, everyone is working hard in Saudi Arabia.” This particular phrasing is what Pakistan found objectionable.
Pakistan reportedly took exception to Khan’s statement. They view his mention of Balochistan as a separate entity from Pakistan as a threat to their national integrity.
Balochistan is a Pakistani province where a long-standing separatist movement seeks an independent identity. Pakistan considers this movement a challenge to its sovereignty.
Reports from Pakistan’s government allegedly described Khan’s statement as detrimental to national unity.
Adding a layer of unsubstantiated claims, a social media user named Nasir Azeem purportedly issued a notification on October 16, 2025. This post claimed Salman Khan was added to a list as an “Azad Balochistan facilitator.”
However, the authenticity of this social media claim has not been verified. Neither reliable Pakistani media outlets nor government sources have confirmed any such official action or designation against the actor. India Today also emphasized the lack of official corroboration for these allegations.