How is the Kashmiri language connected to Sanskrit and other Indo-Aryan languages?

The Kashmiri language is primarily classified as a Dardic language, a group within the Indo-Iranian family, though it has become predominantly Indo-Aryan in character due to extensive historical influence from surrounding languages.12

Its connection to Sanskrit and other Indo-Aryan languages is evident in several ways:

• Vocabulary: The Kashmiri lexicon is a mixture of elements, including significant contributions from Sanskrit, as well as Persian and Punjabi. Historically, Kashmiri Hindus have favored Sanskrit-derived vocabulary and utilized the Sarada script, which is of Indian origin.1
• Phonological Evolution: Like other New Indo-Aryan languages, Kashmiri has undergone specific sound changes. However, it is distinguished by the loss of voiced aspirate stops, a feature attributed to its geographic position on the border of the Iranian area.3
• Dardic Distinctions: While it shares roots with Indo-Aryan languages, Kashmiri retains certain Dardic characteristics that differ from other Indo-Iranian languages, such as the preservation of specific words that were lost in India and Iran after the era of Vedic Sanskrit. Additionally, it maintains unique sibilant patterns, such as the use of š in certain contexts where other Indo-Aryan languages typically use s.23