Ooops...
Salam-
moona-thanks for ur explanation 
However, i still don’t think i get it 
My mom and dad were both brought up in punjab. Apparently my mom’s side we are Kashmiri? She says it is just a caste. But she doesn’t say it like it matters. I don’t care either way, i just wonder what it means. Its not a matter of pride, im just curious. So am I fully punjabi in background? or half and half? hmmm…maybe you all can explain it.
arain.....or araayin......i am not sure how to spell it
I’ll take a stab at answering.
It depends on what part of Kashmir, because in Lahore and Sialkot people from Kashmir valley settled there after Pakistan was created-- they are not a caste. Those Kashmiris may speak Punjabi (Lahori) and are well integrated as Punjabis but ethnically they are not within the Punjabi caste/tribe system.
the other types of Kashmiris are Pakistani-Kashmiris who come from the Potohar highlands, these are areas in Northern Punjab like Rawalpindi up to Azad Kashmir(Mirpur etc.). These Kashmiris ARE Punjabi-Kashmiris meaning they are within the tribe system of Punjab. Their language, Potohari, or Mirpuri is considered a variant of Punjabi. They don’t speak “mainline Lahori Punjabi” either. Tribally, Punjabi-Kashmiris are linked to Gujjars and Rajputs.
714, a good idea would be to ask your mom about what part of Kashmir they came from and what type of Punjabi dialect they used to or still speak. Hope this helps!