Afghan officials are rejecting a United Nations report alleging the systematic torture of Afghan detainees and prisoners.

The U.N. report released Monday found that detainees held by the country's intelligence agency and national police were beaten, shocked and placed in stress positions, often so authorities could obtain a confession.

On Tuesday, Afghanistan's interior ministry released a statement saying no torture takes place in Afghan police detention centers.

The ministry said it would investigate claims of mistreatment and introduce serious reform if necessary.

Afghanistan's intelligence agency, the National Directorate of Security, also refuted the allegations and noted that the facilities were open to inspectors.

The United Nations' special representative to Afghanistan, Staffan de Mistura, said the findings indicate that mistreatment is not institutional or government policy. He said the fact that the Afghan National Police and the country's intelligence agency cooperated with the study shows that reform is possible.