The previously sealed Karangal pass in the Kunar region of Afghanistan has been re-opened, which will be a great relief to the people living there. With winter coming on, and food short it was probably needed to prevent humanitarian crisis. The Tribal leaders are promising to drive out the Taliban as part of the deal, but that remains to be seen.
Karangal Pass in Kunar Re-opened
With many side valleys, and several tribes living up and down the pass, sometimes at odds with each other, the long term effects are unknown. What we do know however is that this is one route from the Chitral/Darkot area into Afghanistan, and those were the places that Bin Laden was last reported at.