Alexander wanted to take India, which he thought was the end of
the world in the east, and then had plans to go back west and
conquer Western Europe, which he thought was the end of the world
in the west - to be master of the whole world, he thought.
But his army had been on the march and fighting for ten years,
had had enough and wanted to take their loot and go home.
The turn back in the Punjab ended this dream. He had no option
after his attempts to coerce his army failed. He spitefully marched
them back to Babylon through the Gedrosia desert where many of them
perished. His planned turn to the western conquest was frustrated
by his early death.