Pakistan’s ministry says reports that Salman Khan was put on a terror watchlist after his Balochistan remark are unverified and false; officials call it sensationalism.
Salman Khan Balochistan Remark Sparks Controversy Online
A viral claim that Bollywood star Salman Khan had been placed on Pakistan’s terror watchlist after a comment about Balochistan has been debunked by Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The ministry’s fact-check unit labelled the reports “unverified and false,” noting there was no official notification, gazette or entry on Pakistan’s National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) list to support the story. It described the headlines as sensational and lacking primary evidence.
The controversy began after Salman — speaking at the Joy Forum 2025 in Riyadh — mentioned people from Balochistan among expatriate communities contributing to the Gulf workforce. Indian outlets repeated an unverified social-media claim that Pakistan had added him to its Fourth Schedule under anti-terror laws. Islamabad’s fact-check said all publicly available reports could not be traced to any formal Pakistani government source and urged readers to treat the story as false until official proof surfaced.
Analysts say the episode highlights how quickly celebrity remarks can be reframed into diplomatic or security narratives, especially across social platforms. For public figures like Salman Khan, offhand remarks can be amplified into cross-border flashpoints, feeding misinformation cycles that authorities then must correct. Media-watchers advise verifying original sources.
