Visuals from Male, the capital of the Maldives, whose president declared a 15-day emergency today (Photo: Twitter/ANI)

India's Ministry of External Affairs advised citizens to "defer all non-essential travels" to the Maldives capital, Male, and other atolls in the archipelago, shortly after the island nation's president declared a 15-day emergency.

"The prevailing political developments in Maldives and the resultant law and order situation is a matter of concern for the Government of India," the MEA said in a statement.

"Indian nationals are, therefore, advised to defer all non-essential travels to Male and other atolls until further notice. Indian expatriates in Maldives are also alerted to the need for heightened security awareness, and urged to exercise due caution in public and avoid public gatherings," the ministry added.

On Monday, China, too, advised its citizens to avoid visiting the Maldives until political tensions subside.

FOR MALDIVES PRESIDENT, PRESSURE AT HOME AND ABROAD

Maldives President Abdulla Yameen, who has run the country with an iron hand since 2013, is facing mounting pressure at home and from the United States and India to release former president Mohamed Nasheed from a 13-year jail sentence, and free eight other political opponents from prison.

Earlier on Monday, Yameen said legal conflicts made it difficult to comply with a Supreme Court order to free jailed opposition leaders.

The Maldives, home to 400,000 people and best known as a tropical paradise for tourists, has experienced political unrest since Nasheed, the island's first democratically-elected leader, was forced to quit amid a mutiny by police in 2012.

Read more on the state of emergency declared by the president here. For an analysis of the crisis, click here.

(Inputs from Reuters)