Reagan Hails Afghan Pact, Will Send Shultz to Sign It

President Reagan, hailing the “valiant struggle of the Afghan people,” announced today that he will send Secretary of State George P. Shultz to Geneva to sign the agreement withdrawing Soviet troops from Afghanistan.

“I believe the United States can now join the Soviet Union as a guarantor of the Geneva instruments,” Reagan said of the accord, which opens the way for the pullout of the 115,000-man Red Army and a return of millions of Afghan refugees to Afghanistan.

Reagan said the proposed pact “would provide for the complete withdrawal of Soviet occupation forces from that country.”

Later, in response to shouted questions from reporters at a Rose Garden ceremony for athletes where he made the announcement, Reagan denied the United States was selling out Afghan rebels, known as the Moujahedeen, in supporting the agreement.

“We are not!” Reagan declared emphatically.

Shultz is to represent the United States at the signing ceremony, which is expected to be held Thursday.

“This development would not have been possible had it not been for the valiant struggle of the Afghan people to rid their country of foreign occupation,” Reagan said. “We take great pride in having assisted the Afghan people in this triumph and they can count on our continued support.”

Lauds Pakistan

Reagan also lauded Pakistan for its role as a home to millions of Afghan refugees and a channel for covert U.S. arms to the rebels during the period of Soviet domination of Afghanistan.

Shultz’s Geneva trip gives him another chance to meet with Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard A. Shevardnadze before talks in Moscow next week to continue preparations for the superpower summit meeting in the Soviet capital beginning May 29.

Before the announcement, Shultz reported to Reagan on his Middle East talks last week with Arab and Israeli leaders, which failed to produce a breakthrough to negotiations. But Shultz vowed to find the time to return and to continue his effort.