Bollywood icon Salman Khan has deleted a tweet in which he thanked God for the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, following backlash from Indian social media users amid heightened regional tensions.
The actor’s post came shortly after reports of a dramatic escalation: Pakistan’s military claimed to have downed five Indian warplanes — including three Rafale jets — and launched “Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos,” which allegedly inflicted significant damage on Indian defenses. Indian authorities have yet to confirm these losses.
The ceasefire was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, who stated that both nations had agreed to an immediate halt in hostilities under American mediation.
While the ceasefire was welcomed by many as a step toward de-escalation, it sparked outrage in parts of the Indian media. Khan’s tweet, in which he expressed gratitude to Allah for the end of fighting, drew sharp criticism from Indian users who viewed it as poorly timed and insensitive given the narrative being portrayed domestically.
Facing mounting criticism online, Khan subsequently removed the tweet.
In recent days, Pakistani officials have also rejected Indian media claims of ceasefire violations and dismissed reports of attacks in Indian-occupied Kashmir as false and misleading. The Pakistani military has maintained that its response to Indian aggression was both swift and targeted, reportedly destroying multiple military installations.
The episode highlights how public figures can quickly become entangled in geopolitical tensions, especially in an age of hyper-visible social media engagement.
