KABUL, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan army waged an operation and freed 38 people from a Taliban prison in eastern province of Ghazni overnight, authorities said on Monday.

"The Afghan National Army (ANA) waged a special operation and freed 38 countrymen from a Taliban prison in Ghat Kali village, Ab Band district, Ghazni province Sunday night," the Afghan Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

The ministry said nine militants were killed after Taliban clashed with the security forces during the operation.

The freed people were shifted to an army base after the raid for identification processing, the statement said.

"Following the raid, nine suspected militants were also arrested and three weapons depots, and two buildings used by militants as a prison were destroyed by the security forces," the statement added.

The Taliban militant group claimed that there were casualties on the side of the security forces in the clash in Ab Band on Sunday night.