The Wakhan Corridor was actually a safe place compared to the other regions in Afghanistan because it was just a desolate corridor. It was isolated and empty. The Islamic militants would not move in the area, and the American troops would not fly their planes here to bomb targets of no value. Only some 10,000 Tajik people populated the Wakhan Corridor and they were wandering nomads. There was no danger so long as one did not anger them. This was a quiet world. 

They progressed smoothly in their return through the Wakhan Corridor as they had experienced it before and were familiar with the terrain and the route; they took much less time. They were through the Wakhan Corridor in five days and entered Afghan territory. The three of them did not meet any trouble in these five days - there was no attack, no surveillance, and they didn’t even run into foul weather. 

Night descended and they made camp in an oasis. The area was small and there was a tiny pool with poplar trees and haloxylon trees. Moonlight shone on the trees...