Owaisi said:"Our prayers are with the brave IAF pilot & his family in this very difficult time

Taking to Twitter, the leaders said their thoughts are with the family and friends of the pilot and the whole country is standing with them

With Pakistan on Wednesday claiming that it has captured the missing pilot of the downed IAF plane, leaders of various parties expressed concern over the well-being of the officer and voiced hope that he will return soon.

India has said it is ascertaining Pakistan's claim after the Pakistan Army released a 46-second video showing a blindfolded man.

DMK leader M K Stalin urged the Centre "to do everything necessary to get him safely back home at the earliest".

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said Pakistan should treat the pilot "as you would have us treat one of your men in uniform should he be unfortunate enough to be captured on this side of the border", while AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi said Islamabad must respect its obligations under the Geneva Conventions and treat him humanely.

In a joint statement, leaders of 21 parties who met here condemned the Pakistani "misadventure" and expressed their "deep concern for the safety of our missing pilot".

1. Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the whole country "is proud of this brave son and everyone is hoping for his safe return." "We all stand united to keep our country safe and strong (sic)," the Aam Aadmi Party chief tweeted.

2. Omar Abdullah

Abdullah also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi "must suspend his political activities until the pilot is returned safely and that he had suggested the opposition parties to also put off their meeting in Delhi. 

"It can't be business as usual with him criss-crossing the country at tax payer expense making political speeches while our pilot is a Pakistani captive," Abdullah said in a series of tweets.

3. Asaddudin Owaisi

Owaisi said:"Our prayers are with the brave IAF pilot & his family in this very difficult time.

"Under Article 3 of Geneva Conventions every party is required to treat prisoners humanely. Pakistan must respect its obligations towards the IAF pilot, regardless of ongoing circumstances."