TL;DR

• At the Joy Forum 2025 in Riyadh, Salman Khan referenced “people from Balochistan, people from Afghanistan, people from Pakistan…” while addressing South-Asian audiences.
• The phrasing quickly went viral with users analysing whether it was slip of tongue or deliberate recognition of Baloch identity.
• Supporters argued it could reflect Baloch national identity; critics said it risked political misinterpretation.
• The actor’s team has not publicly clarified the comment.
• Media commentary pointed to heightened sensitivity around regional identity, especially for diaspora audiences.
• The incident underscores how a celebrity remark can instantly spark geopolitical discourse in the digital age.