Security forces have apprehended five alleged Pakistani spies pretending to be medical doctors in Badakhshan province, said local officials.

They said the arrested persons include two men and three women.

The alleged spies were working in hospitals in Baharak and Keshm districts of the province, the officials added. Ghulam Sakhi Ghafoori, Badakhshan police chief, said that their information shows that the arrested persons were giving information to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

"We arrested these five persons in cooperation with the National Directorate of Security (NDS) and handed them over to the Attorney General's Office," he added.‎ Meanwhile, officials in the provincial directorate of public health said that the arrested persons had entered Afghanistan illegally.

"We have arrested several Pakistani nationals in Kheshm and Baharak districts of Badakhshan. They don't have educational documents and don't have any knowledge about medicine. They are neither doctors, nor even nurses," said Badakhshan director of public health, Noor Khawari.

A number of local people expressed their deep concerns over this issue.

"We are concerned that like these five people there might be some more elements who pretend to be doctors but are working for neighboring countries," said Assadullah, a resident of the province.

He urged government to prevent activities of such people.

Pakistan's ISI has long been accused of interference in the affairs of Afghanistan and of supporting militant groups.