I used to be puzzled as to why this was an offensive word, as it seemed to me like a shortened version of 'Pakistani'.
I should imagine maybe other folks here have additional info on all this, but here's what I learned a while back, whilst spending many hours in conversation with a Sikh workmate.
He said that it was offensive to him, as he was not 'Pakistani' and is offensive to other people from (or whose heritage comes from) the Indian sub-continent and who are not muslim.
He also said that 'Pak' means 'Clean' (he didn't say whether this was in Urdu, although I imagine it was).
So now I can see how it's extremely offensive to many people.
I also thought about an article on the TV some years back and then searched the net and found it here....
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2004/feb/25/race.world
...this 'business venture' obviously didn't take off!
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