The Pakistani government has reportedly labelled Bollywood megastar Salman Khan a “terrorist”, placing him under the Fourth Schedule of Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act (1997) a list typically reserved for individuals suspected of having ties to militant or separatist outfits. The action comes after the actor’s viral remark at the Joy Forum 2025 in Riyadh, where he mentioned “Balochistan” and “Pakistan” as separate entities while speaking about the global spread of Indian cinema.
The comment, which lasted just a few seconds, has triggered a storm across the border transforming what seemed like a casual observation about cinema’s worldwide appeal into a diplomatic flashpoint.
⚡ NEW: Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s name has reportedly been added by Pakistan govt to it’s “Fourth Schedule” — a list under its Anti-Terrorism Act used to monitor people suspected of links to banned groups or extremist activity.
It’s a serious designation that restricts… pic.twitter.com/GzgH02WhUl
— OSINT Updates (@OsintUpdates) October 26, 2025
At the glittering Joy Forum 2025 in Riyadh attended by India’s three biggest stars, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Aamir Khan the conversation turned to the rising influence of Indian films in international markets. In his trademark casual tone, Salman said: “Right now, if you make a Hindi film and release it here, it will be a superhit. If you make a Tamil, Telugu, or Malayali film, it will do hundreds of crores because people from so many countries live here there are people from Balochistan, there are people from Afghanistan, there are people from Pakistan… everyone is working here.”
The moment passed almost unnoticed at the event. But back in Pakistan, the phrasing mentioning “Balochistan” and “Pakistan” separately was enough to spark outrage among hardliners, who accused the actor of “endorsing separatism” and “promoting an anti-state narrative.”
According to documents circulating widely on social media allegedly issued by the Home Department of the Government of Balochistan on October 16, 2025 — Salman Khan has been placed under the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act. The notification reportedly describes him as an “Azad Balochistan Facilitator.”
The Fourth Schedule empowers authorities to monitor and restrict the movements of individuals suspected of extremist or subversive activities. Being placed under it means Salman Khan is now officially on Pakistan’s watchlist an unprecedented move against a global film icon.
