Combating its menace will be one of the biggest challenges of this decade. And for most part, nations like India have failed to stifle the growth of terrorism. Perhaps we still have not developed a robust understanding of its root causes and also an effective tool kit to deal with it. That is why we requested Sundeep Waslekar, president of Strategic Foresight Group, a leading think tank which advises governments around the world, to focus on that question. He and his team have studied every major terrorist group across the world and their practices over several decades.India is at the crossroads in its war on terror. Waslekars essay is a wakeup call for those who believe success lies in simply fighting terror with terror. And that doesnt necessarily make us a soft state.