In Britain, the word “Asian” usually refers specifically to people of South Asian ancestry (Pakistanis, Indians, Bangladeshis and Sri Lankans). East Asians in the United Kingdom are East and Southeast Asian (Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Burma, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.)
The nomenclature has been this way in the UK for a very long time, going back to the days of the East India Company.
If you read the article:
The review refers to predominantly Asian men without going into detail about specifics of heritage or other religious or national identities, but elsewhere Margaret Oliver, a detective on the team who had expressed concern about the operation’s closure, described the case as men of largely Pakistani heritage...abusing vulnerable white girls in Hulme and around Rusholme — where there are a number of curry and kebab stores along the area’s “Curry Mile.”
So in the UK Pakistanis are Asian. And yes, undoubtedly Muslim. But calling them Asian is not some sort of sleight of hand to hide who they are. Everyone in the UK knows these Asians are Pakis.
Well, it’s confusing, no doubt intentionally.
*cough*bull$hit*cough*