Story highlights Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is conducting a review of the State Department's organizational structure

The post lost much of its prestige after Richard Holbrooke died

Washington (CNN) The State Department is planning to eliminate the position of Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, senior US officials confirmed to CNN Friday.

The move comes as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is conducting a broad review of the State Department's organizational structure with the intent of streamlining reporting channels, and potentially cutting several dozen similar senior positions.

But the decision to eliminate this particular post comes at a time when President Donald Trump's administration is re-evaluating US military strategy in Afghanistan, potentially paving the way towards sending several thousand more troops to the country. That timing raises questions about where civilian leadership fits into the strategy writ large.

A State Department spokesperson pushed back on the reports Friday, saying: "The secretary has not made a decision about the future of the office of the special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan."

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