• Thailand and Cambodia have begun military talks to negotiate a ceasefire after deadly border clashes.
• The discussions, lasting three days, are intended to pave the way for an agreement between the nations.
• Both sides accuse each other of ongoing aggression, with recent violence displacing over 900,000 and claiming at least 86 lives.

Thailand's Ministry of Defence initiated military discussions with Cambodia starting December 24, seeking to negotiate a ceasefire after 16 days of intense border clashes that resulted in at least 86 fatalities. The meeting is expected to conclude with a gathering of the countries' defense ministers on December 27, pending the outcome of the secretariat-level dialogues scheduled over three days, according to Channel News Asia, Reuters, and Bangkok Post.

As the talks commence, Thailand's Defence Ministry outlined key demands that include frameworks on troop deployments, emphasizing that if preliminary discussions fail to yield satisfactory results, they may not proceed with the General Border Committee meeting or sign any agreements. These talks mark the first attempt at dialogue since skirmishes resumed on December 7, causing significant civilian displacements and unrest on both sides, as reported by Bangkok Post and Channel News Asia.

The ongoing tension between the countries is exacerbated by mutual accusations of military aggression, with both sides claiming to target military installations rather than civilians. However, reports indicate that ongoing fighting has resulted in civilian casualties, with at least 21 deaths in Cambodia and about 65 in Thailand. Over half a million people have been displaced due to the conflict, per reports from Reuters and Channel News Asia.

Both countries maintain their military readiness, with Thai officials asserting they may continue operations as long as Cambodia does, while Cambodia has condemned Thailand's reported use of air strikes as "brutal" and indiscriminate attacks on its territories. Such dynamics have drawn international attention as they highlight the broader implications for regional stability and cooperation within Southeast Asia, according to Bangkok Post and Reuters.