Two roadside bombs that detonated in central Afghanistan have killed at least 14 people and injured 45 more, including children and police officers.

The bombs incinerated a marketplace during evening rush hour in the city of Bamiyan, a famous tourist destination. Bamiyan, located remotely in the mountains, held a reputation as a safe city.

“When I reached the market … there was still blood and body parts everywhere. The blast occurred when people were busy shopping,” local resident Anwar Saadatyar told the Agence France-Presse. “There were so many wounded people that doctors didn’t know who to treat first. I will never forget that scene.”

No group has claimed responsibility for the violence. “We are investigating the deadly explosions in Bamiyan. This is an unforgivable crime,” Interior ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said.

Despite efforts to establish peace between Afghanistan leaders and the Taliban, the two actors have made little progress. Violence and chaos have unforgivingly increased. Almost 6,000 Afghan civilians have been murdered or injured in the first nine months of this year as the groups continue to fight.

However, Taliban Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid denied the group’s involvement, and went on to condemn the bombing for targeting civilians.

With the Taliban denying responsibility, the United States has shifted blame on the Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan. The Islamic State has admitted to previous bombings, including an assault on educational institutions that killed at least 50 students and an attack on a maternity hospital that killed 24 new mothers and newborn babies, and has declared war on Afghanistan’s minority Shiite Muslims. Bamiyan is a majority Shiite province.

If the Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan claims responsibility for this twin bombing, it would mean that the group infiltrated a province that is considered a refuge from the heavy fighting ensuing in many other parts of the country.

Swift and sharp action must be made to uncover the perpetrator of this deadly attack. Security measures must be increased, even in seemingly safe cities, to look for possible infiltration of insurgents and suspicious activity.

At a recent conference in Geneva, Switzerland, dozens of nations pledged billions of dollars in aid for Afghanistan in hopes that the peace negotiations will bring long-lasting change and end decades of bloodshed.

“Our support and further level (of assistance) will be assessed on the basis of the authorities’ efforts against corruption,” Ine Eriksen Soereide, Norway’s Foreign Minister, said in a statement after pledging $72.1 million in development, assistance, and humanitarian aid for 2021.

Humanitarian aid must be coupled with a strong defense specifically designed to combat the infiltration of extremist groups and government corruption with the intention of protecting citizens.