Pashto literature () refers to literature and poetry in Pashto language.
The history of Pashto literature spreads over five thousands years having its roots in the oral tradition of Tappa (Pashto: üþÃÂ/ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ). However, the first recorded period begins in 8th century with Amir Kror Suri (a warrior poet). Later, Pir Roshan (1526âÂÂ1574), who founded his own Sufi school of thoughts and began to preach his beliefs. He gave Pashto prose and poetry a new and powerful tone with a rich literary legacy. Khair-ul-Bayan, oft-quoted and bitterly criticized thesis, is most probably the first book on Sufism in Pashto literature. Among his disciples are some of the most distinguished poets, writers, scholars and Sufis, like Arzani, Mukhlis, Mirza Khan Ansari, Daulat and Wasil, whose poetic works are well preserved. Akhund Darweza (1533âÂÂ1615), a popular religious leader and scholar gave a powerful counterblast to Bayazid's movement in the shape of Makhzanul Islam. He and his disciples have enriched the Pashto language and literature by writing several books of prose.
Among the bibliographies and biographical dictionaries of Pashtun writers, an important work is Hamish Khalil's Da Qalam Khawandaan (A Directory of Pakhtoon Men of Letters) containing the profiles of over 3,000 Pashto-language writers in both prose and poetry who lived between 1800 and 1975.
As of 2009 there were more than 100 literary magazines in Pashto published in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Here is a list of Pashto Proverbs ():