A failed attempt at a rocket attack against the largest Canadian Forces base in Kabul, Afghanistan was likely thwarted thanks to information provided by local residents, according to Defence Minister John McCallum.

Two 107-millimetre rockets were discovered in a palace near Camp Julien as McCallum was arriving Wednesday for a three-day visit.

"We only knew about the rockets because we were informed by Afghanis and so if they had not been well disposed to Canadians, we would not have learned and the outcome might have been different," McCallum told CTV's Canada AM from Afghanistan on Friday.

McCallum commended Canada's soldiers for their quick action in dealing with the rockets.

"The moment I arrived I was ushered into a protected area ... I wasn't terribly nervous because they were extremely professional and well-organized and we were protected."

"And so they found the rockets and destroyed them and looked for others in the area," McCallum said.

The rockets were found set in sand, peering outward from a south-facing window on the second floor of the King's Palace. They were attached to a new car battery, suggesting someone had tried unsuccessfully to launch them toward the Canadian base.

"They were all wired, aimed, ready to go," according to one investigator, who didn't want to be identified.

The rockets were found after local residents alerted a routine Canadian Forces patrol to people carrying weapons in the area.

"I think the one thing that incident drove home to me was the importance of reaching out to hearts and minds in Afghanistan," McCallum told Canada AM.

"So I think it's very important that we reach out to the people through foot patrols and jeep patrols as well as armoured vehicle patrols," he added.

The rockets were the first credible threat against Camp Julien since Canadian soldiers began deploying to Afghanistan.

A similar rocket was used in a Sept. 11 attack against the second, smaller Canadian base in Kabul, Camp Warehouse.

No one was injured in that attack.

McCallum visited with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Defence Minister General Fahim Khan on Thursday.

Karzai thanked Canada for its support for Afghanistan, saying it had taken in tens of thousands of Afghan refugees over the years and made great sacrifices to bring peace to the country.

Canadian forces make up the bulk of the NATO-led International Security and Assistance Force, or ISAF, which is charged with keeping the peace in the capital, Kabul.

Canada is currently committed to a one-year operation in Afghanistan ending in August 2004. Another rotation of about 1,800 soldiers is expected to begin arriving in February when Canada is scheduled to take over control of ISAF, the 5,500-soldier International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

However, there has been talk in military circles that "best-case scenario" plans are being developed to have Canada remain in Afghanistan for up to five years.