Bollywood megastar Salman Khan has found himself at the center of a bizarre controversy after the Government of Balochistan reportedly placed him under the 4th Schedule of Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act (1997) — a list reserved for individuals suspected of having links to terrorism.
The move, confirmed by a notification allegedly issued on October 16, 2025, has shocked millions across India and abroad.
The document reportedly labeled the actor an “Azad Balochistan Facilitator.”
For those unfamiliar, inclusion in the 4th Schedule carries serious implications — enhanced surveillance, restrictions on movement, and possible legal action.
However, the justification behind putting one of India’s most beloved film stars on such a list has been widely condemned as illogical and absurd.
The controversy stems from Salman Khan’s remarks at the Joy Forum 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he appeared alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan.
While discussing the reach of Indian cinema in the Middle East, Salman said, “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.”
The statement — a simple observation about the South Asian diaspora — was twisted by some Pakistani authorities into a political provocation.
In India, the reaction has been one of disbelief and ridicule. Critics and fans alike called the declaration “a display of complete mental hollowness” and “proof that the coterie behind this decision has lost its sense of reasoning.”
“Calling Salman Khan — one of India’s biggest entertainers — a terrorist shows the intellectual bankruptcy of those who issued this absurd label,” said one social media user. “It’s laughable. I pity Pakistan.”
It appears that, along with financial bankruptcy, they were suffering from mental bankruptcy and should consult some of the best psychiatrists in the US, who are patting their backs these days.
Soon, they would realize what this sudden US love for them was meant for
Even analysts described the move as “directionless and desperate”, suggesting it exposes the lack of understanding among those responsible for such an irrational classification.
Meanwhile, Salman Khan has not issued any official statement yet, but his fans across the globe continue to express solidarity with the actor.
Another one said when one loses track of mind and his thinking abilities come to a naught, he acts like Pakistan
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