What Language Is Pashto? A Detailed Exploration Pashto is a rich and historic language, spoken by millions of people across the world, yet it remains a mystery to many in the West. In this post, we’ll delve into the linguistic, cultural, and historical aspects of Pashto, shedding light on its significance and its speakers. --- Pashto: An Introduction Pashto (پښتو), also known as Pukhto, is one of the two official languages of Afghanistan, alongside Dari (Persian). It is also widely spoken in Pakistan, particularly in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and tribal areas. Pashto belongs to the Eastern Iranian branch of the Indo-Iranian group of the Indo-European language family. With over 40-50 million speakers worldwide, Pashto serves as a marker of cultural identity for the Pashtun people, who are among the largest ethnic groups in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. --- Linguistic Features of Pashto 1. Phonology and Pronunciation Pashto is known for its unique sounds, including retroflex ...