The decent way for countries to engage with the Taliban | Brief letters

Afghan diplomacy | Weather words | Delightful weeds | Thomas Paine’s remains | Reform UK benefits cuts You report concerns over increased diplomatic contact with Afghanistan and the Taliban ( 15 August ).

If nations wish to establish contact with the country and improve human rights, especially for women, may I suggest that they only use women to negotiate and to staff diplomatic bases.

They might also insist on only dealing with women.

If the Taliban desire legitimacy let them have it on decent terms.

Martin Cooper Bromley, London • To help us talk about the weather ( How can we talk about this extreme weather now that it’s a battleground in the culture wars?, 14 August ), my friend Nic Ford and I have coined the term apranxiety – a portmanteau of apricity (the warmth of the sun in winter) and anxiety.

We are hoping it becomes common parlance.

Rachel Papworth Brighton, East Sussex Continue reading...