Pashto (also known as Pakhto, Pakhtu, or Pushto) is the language of the Pashtoons, or Pushtuns, who have lived since recorded times in the southeast of Afghanistan and the adjacent Northwest Frontier Province of Pakistan. The language uses a variant of the Arabic script in its Persian form; however, to aid pronunciation the book has been transliterated into the roman alphabet. The two-way dictionary is an essential communication tool, especially in the more remote Pashto-speaking regions, making it perfect for the traveler, businessperson, or foreign-aid worker. Nicholas Awde is a regional specialist and linguist based in London, specializing in the Caucasus, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa. Asmatullah Sarwan is a freelance writer, journalist, and broadcaster from Afghanistan. He currently resides in London.