(i) Kashmir valley : It is heart of the region. The people are Kashmiri speaking and mostly Muslim with a small Kashmiri speaking Hindu minority.

(ii) Jammu : This region is a mix of foothills and plains, of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs and speakers of various languages.

(iii) Ladakh : This region is mountainous. It has very little population which is equally divided between Buddhists and Muslims.

The internal divisions of the State of Jammu and Kashmir have led to multiple regional aspirations in the State as explained below :

(i) The Kashmiri people want a separate Kashmiri nation, independent of India and Pakistan. There are also groups that want Kashmir to merge with Pakistan. There is a third group which favours great autonomy for the people of the state within the Indian Union.

(ii) The regions of Jammu and Ladakhs are also in favour of autonomy but that is due to neglect and backwardness .Thus, there are divergent political aspirations in the State.