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The 'Kashmiri people' (Urdu: کشمیری) are an ethnic group living in the central valley of Kashmir in India. However, an indeterminate number have left the region and now live in other parts of the Indian subcontinent. The Kashmiris speak the Kashmiri language, a Dardic language^[1] known as ''koshur''.
Originally, the Kashmiris were mostly Hindu. Islam was introduced by Sufi saints from Central Asia. After the Shahmir the Muslim minister of the Hindu Queen Kota Rani seized (http://www.kashmir-information.com/Kilam/chapter2.html) the throne Islam was introduced into Kashmir. Eventually by force and persuasion majority Kashmiris became Muslims. While there are Dogras, Sikhs and Punjabi Hindus, who live in the Kashmir region, they are not ethnic Kashmiris and usually speak Dogri or Punjabi.
The predominant language of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir (Azad Kashmir) is Pahari. Kashmiri is spoken in the northern part of Muzaffarabad District. People in Mirpur District have cultural and linguistic similarities with those living in the neighbouring Pothohar region of Pakistan^[2].

Contents

Ethnic Variation as shown by Linguistics

Migrations of Various ethnic groups during India-Pakistan partition

References

Further reading

See also

Ethnic Variation as shown by Linguistics

. The Valley people speak an Indo-Aryan language.
The population living in the Valley of Kashmir is primarily homogeneous, despite the religious divide between Muslims (92%) and Hindus (6%). The people of the Valley, share common culture, language, and customs, which is no doubt the basis of "Kashmiriyat".
The people living in Jammu profess Hindu, Muslim and Sikh faiths and ethnically different from those living in the Valley in terms of language and culture.
The people living in Pakistan controlled Kashmir (Azad Kashmir), share common religion with their counterparts along the line of control, but are not ethnically and culturally similar to the people living in the Valley. The people living in Ladakh are primarily Buddhist. Muslim minority in Ladakh belongs to the Shia sect. And those living in the Northern Areas of Pakistan (Gilgit, Hunza and Baltistan) theoretically a part of Jammu and Kashmir are not Kashmiris per se and do not share much, except in religion with the Muslims of Kashmir Valley, Jammu and Azad Kashmir.^[3].

Migrations of Various ethnic groups during India-Pakistan partition

During the partition of India many people migrated from their homes chosing to cross borders to start new lives. Whilst many migrated, a large amount of people also stayed, this divided families. Due to conflict in the regeon many of these families were unable to meet due to the lack of routes to the two sides. This however changed when the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus route was opened in 2005.
Although it has been hailed as a great confidence-building measure, for the majority of the divided families it has brought little cheer. The people of Kashmir Valley have little in common with those of Pakistani Administered Kashmir. Culture, language and ethnicity are different. A little migration took place from the valley in 1947-48 and some estimates point out that it involved not more than a few thousand families, mainly of the upper caste Muslims tracing their origin to Central Asia.
The real migration took place from the Rajouri-Poonch belt of the State and this has been confirmed by the overwhelming sentiment of the people who demand the opening of other routes.
People in Pakistani Administered Kashmir have more in common with those living in the border districts of Jammu and Kashmir, namely Kupwara, Rajouri and Poonch who speak the Pahari dialect which is more akin to Punjabi.
Many claim that the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road has little benefit for ethnic Kashmiris as the drawing of the cease-fire line in 1947-48 kept the ethnic base intact. On April 7, when the bus carrying passengers from Pakistan Administerd Kashmiir reached Srinagar city, there was no celebration or sense of 're-unification' reported.^[4]

References

1.
2. HRW Culture and Ethnicity-Kashmir
3. Kashmir's Identity Crisis - Ethnicity
4. Srinagar-Muzafrabad Bus

Further reading

★ Kashmir Return of Democracy By Yodhishter Kahul, Yudhistar ed Kahol

★ The Crisis in Kashmir: Portents of War, Hopes of Peace By Šumit Ganguly

See also

★ Kashmiri Pandits

★ List of Kashmiris