How did Ashoka contribute to the history of Buddhism in Kashmir?

The Mauryan emperor Ashoka is credited with the introduction of Buddhism to the Kashmir region during the 3rd century BCE.1

As a ruler who governed a vast portion of the Indian subcontinent, Ashoka played a significant role in the history of Buddhism by patronizing its expansion and promoting a policy of religious tolerance and social welfare throughout his empire. While historical records regarding his specific activities in every province can be difficult to distinguish from later Buddhist legend and myth, his reign is widely recognized as the period when the religion first took root in Kashmir.231