ISTANBUL

Thailand and Cambodia held their first military talks in Thailand’s Chanthaburi province amid fresh clashes Wednesday, as the total death toll on both sides reached 95, according to the Thai Enquirer news website.

The meeting, which reportedly lasted less than an hour, came as the first military talks since the renewed clashes began on Dec. 8.

Thai officials said that at least 65 people have lost their lives in Thailand, most of whom are civilians, while Cambodian authorities said at least 30 people died in Cambodia.

The two sides will hold military negotiations through Friday, according to public broadcaster Thai PBS.

The choice of venue was earlier contested by Cambodia, which reportedly wanted to meet in Malaysia, but this was rejected by Thailand.

Thailand was earlier reportedly ready to bring up the issues of landmines, historical sites, civilian buildings, and communities allegedly being used as military positions, the outlet said.

On Saturday, a full General Border Committee meeting will be co-chaired by the two defense ministers after secretariat-level meetings are concluded, but if the talks do not result in agreements on key technical frameworks – such as troop deployments and specific measures needed to ensure a ceasefire – Bangkok has said it will not proceed with the meeting or sign any agreements.

Nearly a million displaced by clashes

The Interior Ministry of Cambodia said that nearly 610,000 people from the country were displaced due to the ongoing clashes, according to state-run Agence Kampuchea Presse.

Currently, more than 150,000 people remain displaced on the Thai side, according to spokespersons of Thailand's defense and foreign ministries, while the army had said earlier that some 400,000 people were displaced.

Cambodia's Defense Ministry said that Thailand fired two shells into the Poipet area on Wednesday, adding that forces later fired one shell into the Banteay Meanchey province, injuring two civilians, according to the Khmer Times.

Thai forces opened fire near the Preah Vihear Temple, it said, adding that Cambodian forces also opened fire with BM-21 rockets.

Thailand said Tuesday that its troops destroyed two buildings in the Cambodian border town of Poipet, which were allegedly being used to house scammers and store munitions, according to public broadcaster Thai PBS.

Thai forces also said that clashes continue across three points along the Sa Kaeo border Wednesday, according to The Nation website.

Thai jets bombed the Banteay Meanchey province and Battambang province on Wednesday, according to the Khmer Times.

A video from the Cambodian side showed students in Battambang fleeing in panic.

Separately, the Royal Thai Army said Wednesday on US social media platform Facebook that a report from Cambodia alleging that Thailand committed environmental crimes was a "serious distortion of facts.”

Thailand authorities said 23 Thai soldiers and one civilian have been killed in the fighting, adding that another 41 civilians died as “collateral effects of the situation.”

Cambodia’s Interior Ministry said 30 Cambodian civilians were killed.

Nearly a million people have been displaced on both sides since the clashes began.