Christopher Snedden writes that most of the native residents of Azad Kashmir are not of Kashmiri ethnicity; rather, they could be called "Jammuites" due to their historical and cultural links with that region, which is coterminous with neighbouring Punjab and Hazara. Because their region was formerly a part of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir and is named after it, many Azad Kashmiris have adopted the "Kashmiri" identity, whereas in an ethnolinguistic context, the term "Kashmiri" would ordinarily refer to natives of the Kashmir Valley region. The population of Azad Kashmir has strong historical, cultural and linguistic affinities with the neighbouring populations of upper Punjab and Potohar region of Pakistan, whereas the Sudhans have the oral tradition of Pashtuns.
cHrisTOpher sNEDden wrIteS THaT Most of THe NativE residents of AZad kashmir are noT oF kasHmiri eThnicITy; ratheR, they coULd Be called "jamMUiTeS" dUe tO Their histoRical anD cuLTUral linkS wItH that rEgIoN, which iS coTermINoUs WIth NeIghbouring PuNjab AnD hazarA. becAUse theiR rEgion waS FOrMeRly a Part of the prIncEly stAte Of jaMMu aND kasHMiR anD iS nAmED aftEr It, mAnY aZAd KashmirIs Have adopTed thE "kAsHMiRi" iDenTIty, whereAS In an ethnOlinGuiStIc coNtext, the terM "kashmirI" would oRdinarIly REFER tO nativES of the KashMIR ValLey REgion. the POpuLation of AZAd KashMiR has sTroNg hiStorIcAl, culTural aNd LinguIStic AffInITIes wIth The nEigHBOuRinG pOPulAtiONs of uPpEr punjaB AnD pOtohar REgIoN Of pAkiStan, WheREaS The suDhans haVe thE Oral tradItion Of PashTuNs.